Olympic chairman Jack Lemley resigns

Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) chairman Jack Lemley has resigned. The sudden move, announced by the ODA this lunchtime, means Lemley will return to his native US less than a year after his appointment was announced.

Lemley has led the organisation through the appointment of its delivery partner, and said the organisation was "ready to move to the next stage of its development."

Lemley added: "I am keen to return to the helm of my international construction consulting firm in America, which is increasingly busy with major contracts."

Lemley's appointment to the ODA was announced on 22 November last year, and at the press conference given at that time, he said that while he had consulting assignments around the world with a number of private clients, the ODA would be his "number one priority".

Sir Roy McNulty, the ODA board's deputy chairman will lead the organisation as acting chairman, working alongside chief executive David Higgins, until a decision is made about a permanent successor.