Des Benjamin, chief executive officer of Simplyhealth (pictured), is to retire after 13 years of leading the healthcare provider.

He joined the organisation in 2000, and has led it through a number of mergers and acquisitions since then.

Ken Piggott, chairman at Simplyhealth, said: “On behalf of the board and everyone at Simplyhealth I would like to thank [Benjamin] for his unfaltering leadership and sense of purpose, which has driven Simplyhealth to become a key part of the healthcare market.

“[Benjamin] has helped to grow an organisation that is strong and sure of its ambitions, and he’s done this without ever losing his determination to help people.”

The board has begun the process of finding a successor.