Jon Howell has resigned as president and CEO of the state’s powerful nursing home association, the group announced Thursday.

The Georgia Health Care Association said Howell offered his resignation “to preserve the unity of the statewide association.”

“The board accepted it with regret,’’ said the statement from William Davis, chair of GHCA’s board.

Davis’ statement did not explain the nature of the discord within the trade group.

A spokesman for GHCA, Dan Curran, told Georgia Health News that there was “a difference of opinion on an internal policy matter.”

Howell’s resignation is effective May 1, Curran said.

“The GHCA board deeply appreciates Howell’s more than 15 years of exceptional service to the association and its members,’’ Davis said in the statement. “During his tenure he helped the association make great strides in our advocacy, education, quality, public perception, reimbursement efforts as well as supporting programs to recruit the next generation of long term and post-acute leaders.”

The Georgia Health Care Association has more than 370 members who serve more than 73,000 individuals annually.

Its board has created a search committee to help pick a successor to Howell.