Former British Olympic Association chief executive and chef de mission Simon Clegg has left the organisation with immediate effect after 20 years.

Prior to Beijing 2008 it was announced he would move to a new role in the BOA, overseeing the team's efforts to reach fourth in the London 2012 medals table.

"It has been a huge privilege to manage our country's finest athletes," he said on the BOA website.

"I hope that in some small way I have helped to contribute to any success."

Clegg joined the BOA in January 1989 as its assistant general secretary after a successful career in the Army, which included a period as manager of the British biathlon team.

His skills and experience, particularly in the Olympic environment as Team GB's chef de mission, will be greatly missed BOA chairman Lord Moynihan

He moved up to the position of the BOA's deputy general secretary before becoming the association's first chief executive in January 1997, a post he relinquished in November.

Clegg was also Team GB's chef de mission at the last six summer and winter Olympics, culminating in Britain's most successful Games for 100 years at Beijing.

British competitors won 19 gold medals, 13 silvers and 15 bronzes in Beijing to finish fourth in the medal table with a haul of 47 medals.

And Clegg added: "Before Beijing I advised the Olympic governing bodies that I felt our results could be good enough to achieve our 2012 goal four years early.

"Before the start of the Games I predicted that Team GB would win 17 gold, 10 silver and 20 bronze medals.

"While the final results exceeded even my own expectations such an achievement was always going to present me with a personal dilemma, just as it has proved.

"I have therefore taken the decision that now is the right time for both myself and the BOA to move on to new challenges and to allow others to build on the success which has been achieved."

BOA chairman Lord Moynihan paid tribute to Clegg.

"Simon's leadership over the last 12 years as our CEO has positioned the BOA as one of the most respected and leading national Olympic committee's in the world," he stated.

"His skills and experience, particularly in the Olympic environment as Team GB's chef de mission, will be greatly missed and everyone in the Olympic movement in the UK wishes him well for the future."

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