Bob Diamond resigns as Barclays chief

Bob Diamond resigns as Barclays chief Bob Diamond has resigned as chief executive of Barclays with immediate effect, bowing to calls to go over the interest rate rigging scandal at the bank. Bob Diamond said he did not want to damage the bank's reputation further by staying.  7:41AM BST 03 Jul 20122 Comments He said in a statement: "No decision over that period was as hard as the one that I make now to stand down as chief executive. The external pressure placed on Barclays has reached a level that risks damaging the franchise - I cannot let that happen." Marcus Agius, who announced his resignation on Monday, will become full-time chairman and will lead the search for a new chief executive. The search for a new chief executive will commence immediately and will consider both internal and external candidates. The businesses will continue to be managed by the existing leadership teams.