Anne Whittaker, chief investment officer of Australian Catholic Super is to retire and will leave in December after more than six years at the fund.

The $6.2 billion fund has been working with a head hunter to find a replacement after Whittaker revealed her plans in July.

Richard Haddock, chair of the fund, said the process was “well-advanced” and that a new chief investment officer was likely to be named this month.

Once the new CIO is in place other investment professionals will be added to the team.

Currently, Whittaker manages the investments solely with the back-up of Paul Coenraads as head of investment operations.

She said the long hours in the job and the lack of a broader team were factors in deciding to retire.

“I work long hours and would like to reduce that. It is good that the new person will  be able to get a team around them. It is too lean currently.”

Whittaker’s next move will be to take a break. After this she will look to take on a role as an independent advisor on an investment committee, a role she already performs for two charitable organisations.