Compliance specialist Reid leaves McGregor Boyall

Reid said he resigned for personal reasons following a family bereavement. He joined McGregor Boyall in London in June last year after working as head of compliance for rival recruiter Joslin Rowe.

McGregor Boyall could not immediately be reached for comment. Reid said he was not taking another job immediately and was unsure about his future career path, but added: "Legal and compliance recruiting is what I know best."

He said the job market in these areas remained more buoyant than in many others. "Firms can sack people in areas such as corporate finance but they always need compliance staff."