Ritchie, 63, first joined the RFU in February 2012.

It is claimed that under his leadership the RFU delivered record revenue and investment into professional and community rugby. 

He also oversaw the delivery of the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England, and negotiated the Professional Game Agreement with Premiership Rugby (PRL) this year.

The agreement sees Premiership clubs benefit from the successful financial performance of England Rugby.

It is worth more than £200 million ($260 million/€232 million) to Premiership clubs in England over the next eight years, with the aim of making rugby in the nation the best in the world for club and country.

Participation in rugby has increased every year during Ritchie's tenure, the RFU said.

Landmark initiatives include the successful CBRE All Schools programme, which has already taken rugby to 500 additional state secondary schools in England and intends to increase this to 750 by the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan. 

"It has been an honour and a privilege to lead the RFU," Ritchie, 63, said.

"I'm proud to have been part of the rugby family, working with so many talented, passionate and committed teams at every level of the game and of the union.

"Rugby is a special sport, and one which is very hard to leave, but after a 40-year career and seven chief executive roles, I will retire at the end of the summer with a lifetime of memories, many of which have rugby at heart."

Ritchie thanked RFU chairman Andy Cosslett, the Board, and everyone connected with the governing body for their support. 

Cosslett was elected to his position in October 2016, replacing Bill Beaumont who took up World Rugby's equivalent post earlier that same year.

He previously held an independent non-executive director role on the RFU Board and was chairman of England Rugby 2015.

"Ian has been an outstanding chief executive," Cosslett said.

"He has led the RFU through a period of sustained growth and success, built a terrific management team of executives and coaches, and kept the values of rugby at the heart of his leadership style.

"On behalf of the Board of the RFU, I would like to thank him for his significant and lasting contribution to English rugby."

England teams have won three Six Nations grand slams during Ritchie's time at the helm, with the men's side doing so in 2016 and the women's and the under-20s sides achieving the feat this year.

The men's team made it back-to-back Six Nations crowns in March, while world titles have been won by the women's team in 2014 and the under-20s in 2013, 2014 and 2016. 

As well as being one of two RFU representatives on the World Rugby Council, Ritchie is also a member of the Boards of the British and Irish Lions and the Six Nations.

Additionally, he is chairman of the Board of Team GB Rugby Sevens.

Prior to joining the RFU, Ritchie was the chief executive of the All England Lawn Tennis Club at Wimbledon. 

He served on the Board of the English Football League from April 2004 to December 2011 and, before his sporting roles, had a career in media, television and law spanning three decades.

The latter included positions such as chief executive of Channel 5 and vice-president of the Associated Press.