Starz CEO Chris Albrecht is exiting his post.

The premium cable outlet on Friday announced that Albrecht would depart the network in March, opting to step down more than a year before his current contract expires. Albrecht has been with Starz for nearly a decade, and his exit comes as the network becomes more fully integrated with Canadian entertainment company Lionsgate — which acquired Starz and its various properties in 2016 for $4.4 billion. COO Jeffrey Hirsch and the current leadership team will work alongside Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer going forward.

“Chris’s renowned programming expertise and entrepreneurial abilities have helped build Starz into a premium global brand distinguished by its great shows, fast-growing direct to consumer initiatives, and expanding international footprint,” said Feltheimer. “As we complete the first phase of our evolution into a unified company and accelerate our focus on Starz’s international expansion, Chris has decided to step down to pursue other opportunities. I look forward to working closely with him and Jeff Hirsch to ensure a smooth transition and plan the next steps of the company’s continued growth.”