The boss of the UK’s air traffic control services is standing down after five years.
Chief executive Richard Deakin is to leave at the end of June.
His departure follows a computer glitch at the company’s control command centre at Swanwick in Hampshire which lead to as many as 120 flights being cancelled and 500 delayed before Christmas.
The chief executive was forced to apologise to MPs before the House of Commons transport committee.
Nats said it did not have a replacement lined up but managing director of operations, Martin Rolfe, is to step in.
“The board has instigated a search process to identify and appoint a successor from both internal and external candidates,” Nats said.
Nats chairman, Paul Golby, said: “During the past five years, Richard has led Nats through a period of continued operational and financial improvement.
“Under his leadership the company has delivered high levels of safety and service as well as a strong financial performance for our shareholders.
“When I became chairman in September of last year, we were coming to the end of a five-year programme of operational improvement and the regulatory period.
“As the company embarks on the new regulatory period and prepares to implement the Single European Sky initiative, the board and Richard have agreed that now is an appropriate time to make a change to the leadership of the company, and to bring a new perspective and approach.
“We would like to thank Richard and wish him well in the future.”