Faulkner (pictured top), part of the team which won Britain's last hockey gold at Seoul 1988, took on his role seven years ago and guided the men's and women's teams to fourth in the world rankings.

Both had previously languished at 11th before he joined the organisation, but the improvements since have been significant and ensured the squads were competitive at London 2012.

Both teams reached the bronze medal match with the women defeating New Zealand to claim Britain's first hockey medal since Barcelona 1992.

Both England and Great Britain have also won a number of other major medals in recent years.

The men won the European Championship for the first time in 2009, followed by the 2010 Champions Trophy silver, the same accolade won by the British women's team in 2012.

For the women that was the first time they had ever reached the final of the Champions Trophy.

Britain's women celebrate after securing the London 2012 hockey bronze medal

Sally Munday, England Hockey chief executive, said: "We are very disappointed to be losing David as he has provided fantastic leadership of our performance programmes but we recognise that the demands of the performance director role require a unique dedication in terms of time and energy.

"David has put England and Great Britain Hockey ahead of everything for the last seven and a half years and I completely respect his decision to move on."

Faulkner also served as an executive director on the England Hockey Board, overseeing the hosting of the Women's Champions Trophy in 2010 and the successful bid to stage the 2015 European Championship in London.

"I have thoroughly enjoyed working closely with David since we set out in 2005 to rebuild the reputation and results of hockey," England Hockey executive chairman Philip Kimberley added.

"He has played a hugely important role in our recent success on the pitch and in re-establishing our reputation off it; for that I thank him and wish him well in the future."

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