The outgoing director general of the Takeover Panel has accepted a senior position at Lazard, as the body responsible for takeovers in the UK continues to function without a long-term leader in the midst of heated debate over the rules governing mergers and acquisitions.

Robert Hingley has been named co-head of the financial institutions group at Lazard alongside incumbent Will Samuel, vice-chairman of Lazard in London, according to statement from the investment bank. Hingley, who was previously a vice-chairman at Lexington Partners, replaces John Hack, the FIG specialist who left Lazard to join Clive Cowdery's investment vehicle Resolution in September.