A director of the Resmed (ASX: RMD) board has resigned, reducing the number of board members to eight.

Donagh McCarthy, president of the renal division of Baxter Healthcare in the US, has declined to stand for re-election to the board.

The remaining board members decided that instead of finding a replacement for McCarthy, the board would be reduced to eight.

Resmed founder Dr Peter Farrell will continue to hold the post of executive director of the board.

Farrell had previously arranged to become non-executive chairman by June 30.