Outgoing DMO CEO Warren King with Governor General Peter Cosgrove last year.

Warren King has decided to cease duty as the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) effective from Friday, Secretary of Defence Dennis Richardson announced on Wednesday.

King is preparing to undertake other duties elsewhere within the Department of Defence for “a period of time” before he retires completely from the Australian Public Service, Richardson wrote in a Department-wide email.

Harry Dunstall, the DMO’s general manager commercial and deputy CEO of the organisation, will play the role of acting chief executive as of the close of business on Friday.

King took the helm of the DMO in February 2012.