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The principal and chief executive of Coleg Gwent has announced he will retire at the end of the academic year.

Guy Lacey, has worked at the college for two decades, and has been principal for the last eight years.

The college – which has a campus in Crosskeys, as well as in Newport, Usk, Ebbw Vale, and Cwmbran – will begin its search for Mr Lacey’s successor in the new year.

Mr Lacey has been described by the college as a “visionary leader” who presided over a period of “remarkable growth and transformation” – including the opening of campuses in Ebbw Vale and Cwmbran.

While principal, Mr Lacey has served as chair of Colegau Cymru, which is an organisation representing further education institutions across Wales.

He has also been a long-standing member of the Cardiff Capital Region Skills Partnership, and has sat on its Economic Growth Partnership.

Mark Langshaw MBE, chair of the college’s board of governors, praised Mr Lacey and said it was a “bittersweet moment” to hear of his retirement plans.

“Guy should be very pleased with all of his accomplishments over a long and distinguished career, and he leaves the college in a stronger position than which he found, well positioned for the future,” said Mr Langshaw.

“The Board is very grateful for Guy’s strong leadership and dedication to Coleg Gwent and the wider further education sector in Wales.”

He added: “We wish him a long and well-deserved retirement.”