David Collier is to retire from his role as England and Wales Cricket Board chief executive at the end of this summer, it has been confirmed.

Collier, 59, will leave after a highly eventful decade at the helm of English cricket administration.

He believes it is simply the “right time to step aside” and leaves with ECB chairman Giles Clarke expressing a “huge debt of gratitude” for his services since October 2004.

During Collier’s tenure, England have won four Ashes series — including Down Under for the first time in almost a quarter of a century in 2010/11.

They also went to the top of the International Cricket Council Test rankings in 2012, again for the first time, but have since slipped dramatically from that position and suffered a 5-0 Ashes whitewash in Australia last winter.

There was a first win in an ICC global tournament on Collier’s watch, at the 2010 World Twenty20 in the West Indies.

Clarke said: “David has overseen the most successful period of development, playing success and growth for cricket in England and Wales — and we are extremely grateful to him.

“During his decade as chief executive, David has produced and delivered three strategic plans which have revolutionised cricket in this country.”