One of Europe’s longest-serving private equity executives is leaving Montagu Private Equity, the latest in a line of buyout veterans to take a step back from the industry in the past few months at the same time as a swathe of younger staff are being promoted.

Vince O'Brien, an investor relations director who had worked at Montagu for 22 years, said in an email to industry contacts on December 22, 2015, that he had "decided that it is time for a break and a new challenge".