Departing Rob Andrew believes the RFU have chosen well by selecting Nigel Melville to be his successor as director of professional rugby.
Andrew's 10-year stint with English rugby union's governing body will come to an end this summer when Melville replaces him at Twickenham.
Melville, 55, returns to his home country after almost a decade with USA Rugby, with whom he was employed as their chief executive.
Andrew, meanwhile, will continue working on completion of the latest agreement between the RFU and England's Premiership clubs, which is set to run until after the 2023 World Cup.
Following the announcements on Friday, Andrew said: "Having played with, and known Nigel, for a long time, I believe that he is the best candidate to be appointed to take over the reins from me.
"I wish him well and I will support him in any way I can going forward."
And Andrew says his new position will help produce a wealth of new talent for England coach Eddie Jones to choose from.
He added: "My role has primarily been to set up a structure that would ultimately deliver long-term success to England through a pipeline of talented players coming through the academy system.
"Bringing together the clubs to support the new academy scheme required recognition from the RFU to reward them to bring on successful academy players, and I believe we have achieved this.
"The pipeline is going from strength to strength, and I believe will deliver Eddie Jones and his coaches the world-class players that England need to ensure increasing success going forward."
Andrew played 71 Tests for England and five as a British and Irish Lion, while Newcastle won the Premiership in 1998 with the Yorkshireman at the helm.