UK low-cost carrier easyJet has announced that Carolyn McCall will step down as CEO around the end of 2017 to lead UK television company ITV.

The airline said McCall will continue with her existing responsibilities; the search for her successor is already underway.

“This was a really difficult decision for me to make,” McCall said. “After seven years, the opportunity from ITV felt like the right one to take.”

“Carolyn built and led the management team that has transformed easyJet’s performance in every respect since 2010,” easyJet chairman John Barton said.

He said McCall has built a solid operational performance and redefined the easyJet customer experience, boosting passenger numbers and loyalty.

“This has led to sustained and continuing financial success which has been shared with shareholders with a more than trebling of easyJet’s share price and the payment of £1.2 billion ($1.6 billion) in dividends,” Barton said.

The LCC’s third-quarter trading update will be issued on July 20. This is expected to include improved revenue-per-seat, strong load factors and full-year cost-per-seat in line with guidance.