The board of directors for Maine Medical Center will begin a national search for a new CEO and president after the current leader, Vincent Conti, leaves June 15.

Board chairwoman Meg Baxter said Tuesday that the national search could take six to nine months.

Richard Petersen, Maine Med’s chief operating officer, will take over Conti’s role on an interim basis, Baxter said. She said she expected that Petersen will be a candidate.

In an interview last month with the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram, Conti said he understood that Petersen would assume his role permanently.

“At that point, I don’t believe the board had met around the specific issue,” Baxter said.