Steve Burch, Virgin Media Chief Executive, has quit the firm after only 18 months citing 'family and personal reasons'. The company, currently in limbo over its sale, will be run temporarily by chief operating officer Neil Berkett.
Burch is returning to America, and will also step down from the board.
Burch has had a busy time at the helm since joining NTL at the beginning of last year, leading the group through the Telewest merger, the acquisition of Virgin Mobile, and the rebranding to Virgin Media.
Virgin Media's Chairman, Jim Mooney, said: "Steve has contributed significantly to the transformation of Virgin Media. Since he joined us, the company has emerged as the UK's only 'quad play' provider and a genuinely distinctive presence in the world of communications and entertainment. On behalf of Virgin Media's Board of Directors, I thank him for his contribution to our development and wish him every success for the future."
Virgin recently admitted to losing 70,000 customers in the second quarter, with more than half down to the continuing rows with Sky over supply of their most popular channels.
Virgin insists there has been no argument between Burch and the rest of the board, and that his departure would not further disrupt the sale of the company which has already been delayed due to problems in the credit markets.
Burch has had a busy time at the helm since joining NTL at the beginning of last year, leading the group through the Telewest merger, the acquisition of Virgin Mobile, and the rebranding to Virgin Media.
Virgin Media's Chairman, Jim Mooney, said: "Steve has contributed significantly to the transformation of Virgin Media. Since he joined us, the company has emerged as the UK's only 'quad play' provider and a genuinely distinctive presence in the world of communications and entertainment. On behalf of Virgin Media's Board of Directors, I thank him for his contribution to our development and wish him every success for the future."
Virgin recently admitted to losing 70,000 customers in the second quarter, with more than half down to the continuing rows with Sky over supply of their most popular channels.
Virgin insists there has been no argument between Burch and the rest of the board, and that his departure would not further disrupt the sale of the company which has already been delayed due to problems in the credit markets.