Now Italy's UniCredit says chief executive Jean Pierre Mustier will step down in April next year.

The French former investment banker has steered UniCredit through a painful restructuring over the past four years.

He's bolstered its balance sheet and cut exposure to debt laden Italy.

But after fruitless attempts as a cross border deal, Monsieur has ruled out mergers and acquisitions.

His view was increasingly at odds with the consolidation fever sweeping Italy's fragmented banking sector.

In a statement late on Monday, Mustier said his business plan and its core pillars no longer corresponds to the boards current thinking.

Shares and UniCredit were trading down around 5% in Tuesday morning trade.

By contrast, shares in state owned Monte dei Paschi surged around 4%.

The Italian government is looking for a buyer for the Tuscan bank it rescued in 2017.

Sources have said it had identified UniCredit as the ideal partner due to its robust balance sheet.

UniCredit is the latest major European bank to announce a CEO departure this year.

Credit Suisse, U.

B s I N G comments Bank on Lloyds have all made leadership changes.