BOSTON -- The Massachusetts governor's race is more than a year away, but it's heating up fast, with the head of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care now saying he's going to resign his post there and toss his hat in the ring as a Republican.

Charlie Baker, 52, a former official in the Weld administration and the current president and CEO of Harvard Pilgrim, will join Christy Mihos as a GOP candidate trying to unseat Democratic incumbent Gov. Deval Patrick.

"A state that can't grow jobs, can't keep it's young people, is in deep, deep, serious long-term trouble and that's what I see when I look at Massachusetts right now," Baker said.

Harvard Pilgrim issued a statement Wednesday announcing Baker's resignation will take effect July 17. Bruce Bullen, the current chief operating officer, will act as interim CEO.

“Harvard Pilgrim is in great shape -- with a great team, a great strategy and a great future. Leaving the company is not an easy decision for me but there is no middle ground. I am either the CEO of Harvard Pilgrim – or I’m building a campaign organization. I cannot do both," Baker said in a statement.

Baker, who served under Weld and former Gov. Paul Cellucci as Health and Human Services secretary and as the head of his Administration and Finance office from 1992 to 1998, has only held one elected office as a selectman in Swampscott.

"I think it's always a problem when one team controls 100 percent of the field. And I think we'd be much better off if we had balanced discussion," Baker said.

He has been at the helm at Harvard Pilgrim for 10 years. The father of three earned a bachelor's degree from Harvard and a master's degree from Northwestern’s Kellogg School.

State Treasurer Tim Cahill said earlier this week he is leaving the Democratic party and is weighing a run for governor as an Independent candidate.