UPDATE 2-Anite H1 pretax profit rises, CEO steps down

* H1 adjusted pretax 10.9 million pounds vs 7.7 million

* FD Christopher Humphrey becomes new CEO

* Group to return up to 20 million pounds to shareholders (Adds incoming CEO comments, analyst reaction, shares)

LONDON, Dec 1 (Reuters) - British IT firm Anite Plc (AIE.L) posted a 42 percent rise in first-half pretax profit on Monday, and said it would return up to 20 million pounds ($31 million) to shareholders after a disposal programme.

The group, which sold its public sector business for 54.3 million pounds in the period, said adjusted pretax profit rose to 10.9 million pounds, from 7.7 million pounds, while revenue fell 1 percent to 47.4 million pounds.

"We had a generally satisfactory performance in the first half," the group's finance director Christopher Humphrey, who is replacing Steve Rowley as chief executive, said in an interview.

"The public sector disposal was an inflection point in terms of our focus."

The market welcomed the change of leadership and the return of cash, and the company's shares were up 6.4 percent at 25 pence by 1041 GMT.

"Despite recent progress on acquisitions, the market will probably welcome a change of CEO, though not necessarily an internal appointment," said Teathers analyst Michael Donnelly.  Continued...