In what must go down as one of the shortest-lived executive appointments in history, Naguib Kheraj, the former chief executive of JP Morgan Cazenove who joined Lazard last month, has quit the firm just 32 working days into the job.

Kheraj, who joined Lazard on January 4 in the newly-created position of chief executive of Lazard International, will leave the firm tomorrow to "concentrate on philanthropic activities," according to a statement.