Christian Seifert, the chief executive of the German Football League (DFL), will leave his role when his contract expires in 2022.
The 51-year-old has held the most senior role in the DFL since 2005.
However, Seifert's current deal is up in two years' time and he has announced he does not intend to agree an extension, preferring to "open a new professional chapter".
He added: "Until then, I will of course continue to focus on current and future challenges in my DFL positions with the greatest ambition and full commitment."
DFL supervisory board chairman Peter Peters said: "The change at the top of the DFL means a turning point.
"Christian Seifert has done outstanding work for more than 15 years and has thus made a significant contribution to the success of the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga.
"I am convinced that Christian will continue to be fully committed to the DFL until the end of the contract period.
"The supervisory board will approach the new appointment professionally without time pressure and set up a comprehensive process for this purpose."
