Marc Bué has resigned from his role as chairman of Crédit Agricole, the French bank, to be replaced by René Carron, chair of the bank's holding company La Boétie and Fédération Nationale du Crédit Agricole (FNCA).

Bué's departure appears to be an aggressive move by Crédit Agricole to step up its bid for Crédit Lyonnais. A merger or a partnership arrangement between the two banks has been on the cards for months, however extended talks were inconclusive. Crédit Agricole was keen to cut a deal with Crédit Lyonnais, but it is understood that a rift amongst senior staff at Crédit Agricole, including Bué, proved to be a stumbling block in reaching a concensus.