Richard Miller, president and CEO of Marlton, N.J.-based nonprofit Virtua, will be retiring at the end of 2017 after 21 years running the four-hospital system.

A company press release said the search for his replacement has begun to “ensure a seamless leadership transition.”

“I've been privileged to lead one of the region's greatest healthcare teams," Miller said, "with people who are dedicated to compassionate healing and outstanding customer service. The time has come for me to pass the baton to the next generation of leaders, and I will take great pride in watching the organization continue to fulfill its mission of helping people be well, get well and stay well."

Miller’s tenure at the system predates its current form. He joined the West Jersey Health System as finance director in 1986, moving up the ranks until becoming president and CEO in 1996. He was in charge when West Jersey merged with Memorial Health Alliance in 1998, creating Virtua.

“Since then, Virtua has become a leader in the region delivering quality healthcare and bringing innovative programs and services to the communities it serves. He has built an outstanding leadership team that will continue to fulfill the organization's mission,” said Virtue Chairman Dennis Flanagan.

Two of Virtua’s hospitals, the 433-bed Virtua Memorial in Mount Holly and 370-bed Virtua Voorhees, were named as high-performing hospitals by U.S. News and World Report in 2016, with the Voorhees facility ranked as No. 8 on the list of New Jersey’s top hospitals.