ZeniMax Online Studios president Matt Firor is leaving the company. 

The news came via a statement shared by the development vet on Twitter, in which he said that he'd be stepping down after 18 years at the helm. He is being replaced by studio head Jo Burba, as well as exec producer Susan Kath and game director Rich Lambert. 

"Together, this leadership team has spearheaded many of Elder Scrolls Online's biggest ideas and expansions and will continue to make this game something we're all proud of," Firor wrote. 

"While I won't be working on the game anymore, I will be cheering you on and adding to the thousands of hours I've already spent in-game. There are many more stories to be told, adventures to be had, and I know this amazing community will carry that shared legacy and success forwards."

This news follows word that an in-development MMO project, codenamed Blackbird, had been cancelled at ZeniMax Online Studios as part of this wave of layoffs, project closures and general tightening that is going on at Microsoft at the moment.  

Firor has worked at ZeniMax Online Studios since 2007.