SAS Institute South Pacific long-serving CEO Brian Wood walked out of the company's doors for the last time after 17 years on Friday.
Wood, who has been suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) for the past two years, has left the company to concentrate on regaining his health.
"My CFS has certainly not been as severe as it can be. Nevertheless, it reduced my capacity for work. I have started on the road to recovery and I am now 75 per cent better," Wood said. "I want to focus on making a full recovery, before resuming my career."
Vice president of SAS Asia Pacific, Phil Beniac has become interim CEO, with no set date planned for the hiring of a new CEO.
Wood joined SAS in 1983 as the marketing manager and went on to hold the position of sales and marketing director for Australia before being appointed managing director of the Australian division in 1995, and the New Zealand operations in 1996.