AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc., the country's second-largest movie theater chain, said Tuesday that Chief Executive Gerry Lopez will resign effective next month.

Mr. Lopez, who took the helm in 2009 after spending time at Starbucks Corp., is leaving to pursue another opportunity, AMC said. His departure is effective Aug. 6.

The board has appointed Chief Financial Officer Craig Ramsey as interim CEO and has formed a search committee to find a permanent replacement.

Lloyd Hill, audit committee chairman who is leading the CEO search, said Mr. Lopez took on the role "at a critical point in our history six years ago when AMC was in need of a strategic refocus." Mr. Lopez said he plans to bring his "passion for strategic refocus to another industry."

AMC, based in Kansas and acquired in 2012 by China's Dalian Wanda Group, went public in 2013 after having put off initial public offering plans several times.

Over the past 12 months, shares in the company have soared 45%.

Write to Lisa Beilfuss at lisa.beilfuss@wsj.com

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