Geoff Armstrong plans to retire as director general of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) next spring.

Armstrong will step dowin in June 2008, a date that will mark 16 years in the role.

He said: "It has been a great honour to lead the CIPD since 1992. But the time has come to begin the search for my successor. We have a strong management team in place, and an effective Board and governance structure. I will continue to work alongside them to achieve our strategic objectives and to hand over to my successor.”

The search for a new Director General is now set to start, led by CIPD president Vicky Wright.

She said: "I and the Board will be working to identify a suitable successor, equipped to offer the same innovation, vision and dynamism as Geoff has brought to the role."