The president and chief executive of the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce is leaving after less than two years on the job to take a new position in Florida, the group announced Wednesday.

Tim Giuliani, who came to Raleigh in the middle of 2015 from a position in Gainesville, Fla., plans to return to the Sunshine State to head a new regional economic development/chamber of commerce group in Orlando. His last day in the Triangle will be March 3.

“This was a tough personal decision to make. It has been my privilege to serve the community of Raleigh and the Triangle region,” Giuliani said in a statement. “I enjoyed partnering with the dedicated staff, members and directors at the Chamber, and I know that a great future lies ahead for Raleigh.”

Chamber officials credited Giuliani with helping get the Wake County Transit Plan referendum approved last fall and with the creation of 7,762 jobs and $632 million of capital investment across the region.

“The board regretfully accepts Tim’s decision, and we are truly grateful for his forward-thinking vision and guidance over the last year and a half,” Raleigh Chamber Chairman Greg Winkler said in a statement. “He has led our team in strategic economic planning and development with a unique and innovative approach to fostering a thriving business community. We wish him and his family all the best as they return to their home state of Florida, and he pursues an opportunity of a lifetime. The Greater Raleigh Chamber looks forward to carrying on initiatives he helped to establish.”

The board of directors has begun searching for a successor and said Senior Vice President and General Manager Janet Carr would manage the Chamber’s operations until a new president is named.