The top executive of Kennett Square’s not-for-profit Quaker-inspired retirement community developer, The Kendal Corp., will have led the growth of the Kendal System for nearly 25 years when he steps down in mid-2016.

President and CEO John Diffey recently announced his own plans for retirement to the company’s board of directors, according to an Executive Insight report.

“Many of the important agenda items within the Kendal System are reaching natural points of closure or significant milestones,” Diffey said in the article. “A new paradigm of health care in the United States is developing. A next generation of Kendal leaders is ready to assume greater responsibility. This period of my life and career has been immensely stimulating and satisfying. Kendal’s values and practices; Kendal’s people — residents, staff and board members — and Kendal’s mission and vision together have provided an absolutely special and wonderful context in which to serve.”

Under his direction, the Kendal System has grown beyond Kennett Square, West Chester and Newtown to New York, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Virginia, metro Washington, D.C., Ohio and Chicago.

Read more about Diffey’s retirement, career accomplishments and succession plans in Executive Insight here.