Ex-KPMG partner Jeremy Outen has quit his position as head of the Economic Crime Command at the National Crime Agency (NCA) just weeks before the new anti-fraud unit is due to launch.

Outen's appointment as director-designate was announced by the Home Office in April, when Home Secretary Theresa May was quoted as saying that 'getting a senior leadership team in place early is crucial to ensuring the NCA is ready to become fully operational later this year.'

The Home Office has now announced that Outen has decided not to take up the NCA post 'for personal reasons', although he gave up his role as head of KPMG's fraud practice last month.

In a statement, the department said: 'Steps are currently being taken to ensure this position is filled.'

The Economic Crime Command is scheduled to become operational in October and is intended to co-ordinate and improve communication between the Serious Fraud Office, the Financial Conduct Authority and other prosecutors of economic crime.

The re-modelled service will also take over the operations and many of the staff of the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) which is being disbanded.

Outen's resignation follows that of SOCA chairman Sir Ian Andrews earlier this month. Andrews resigned after failing to declare he owned a private company with his wife, who works for a global consultancy firm involved in security and investigations.