He said following three decades of service, including 13 years as managing director, he was seeking a change in his employment.

"I want to finish a job I love doing while I still love doing it," he said.

"It has been a privilege to be part of a stable and passionate leadership team through my journey as managing director and I am proud of all the diverse people who make North East Water the amazing organisation it is."

IN OTHER NEWS

Mr Heiner has overseen some major improvements to water quality across the region, installation of drinking water and sewer systems in smaller towns and changes to environmental practices that will lead to a significant reduction of the corporation's carbon footprint.

He joined the Kiewa Valley Water Authority in Mount Beauty in 1991 as an accountant and rose through the ranks following the mergers between 1994 and 1997 when North East Water was formed.

The corporation will begin recruitment for a new managing director in the coming months.

Mr Heiner became managing director in 2008 when he replaced the corporation's long-serving chief executive, Jim Martin.

He grew up at Dederang and completed high school in Wodonga before attending Charles Sturt University.

Mr Heiner served in roles chief financial officer and manager of corporate strategy before becoming managing director with a four-person executive management team presently.

North East Water has close to 190 full-time employees and moved into its new Thomas Mitchell Drive headquarters in late 2013.

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