After seven years in the job Sir Simon now becomes a life peer, the government says.
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Sir Simon Stevens is to step down as head of NHS England and become a peer, the government has announced.
After seven years in the job, he will stand down at the end of July after having overseen the Covid vaccination rollout to all adults.
Sir Simon had intended to leave sooner but agreed to stay on through last winter.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he had “led the NHS with great distinction”.
“I want to thank him for his dedicated service throughout – but especially when facing the extraordinary pressures of the past year, and for his huge contribution to our vaccine rollout,” Mr Johnson said.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said Sir Simon had been “a steadfast and sage leader for our National Health Service, and that has been especially true during this most testing period in NHS history”.
He added: “His leadership has helped NHS staff to overcome unprecedented adversity and keep services open for millions of patients in the face of this global pandemic.”
Sir Simon first joined the NHS in 1988 through its graduate management programme before working in international health care, frontline NHS services and at 10 Downing Street, before becoming chief executive of NHS England in 2014.
He was knighted in 2020 for services to health and the NHS, and will now join the House of Lords.