High-profile technology executive Andrew Donaldson has resigned as CEO of merchant service provider SmartPay, after just under a year in the job.

Donaldson was initially appointed as CFO of SmartPay in September 2010, but was promoted to CEO in January of this year.

Other roles he has held include New Zealand managing director for Brightstar and CFO retail for Telecom. His new role will be with Genesis Energy.

SmartPay chairman Wayne Johnson says the board will work with Donaldson to ensure an orderly exit, and is progressing with a recruitment programme to find his replacement.

"Andrew has made a tremendous contribution to SmartPay,” Johnson says, "firstly as CFO and more recently as CEO.

"The board fully understands his reasons for leaving and wish him every success in his new role.