The Australian, who worked in the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, has been responsible for overseeing the construction of the London Olympic venues.
He will be replaced as chief executive by Dennis Hone, who is currently ODA’s finance director.
“It has been a privilege to lead the ODA over the last five years and I am leaving with the Olympic Park on time, within budget and with the finish line in sight,” said Higgins.
“A large part of the confidence the British public and the IOC [International Olympic Committee] has in this project is due to the great progress David and his team have made on the Olympic Park,” added organising committee chairman Sebastian Coe.
