The UK’s European Commissioner lord Hill is to stand down, saying “what is done cannot be undone” after the UK voted to leave the European Union.
In a statement, he said he did not believe it was right for him to carry on with his work as the commissioner in charge of financial services.
But he will stay on for a period of weeks to ensure an “orderly handover”.
A close ally of Prime Minister David Cameron, lord Hill had argued for the UK to remain in the EU.
He will be replaced by latvian politician Valdis Dombrovskis, currently European Commissioner for the Euro.
lord Hill’s announcement comes as EU foreign ministers urged Britain to hold speedy talks on leaving the bloc, after it voted to end its membership on Thursday.
And Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she would be seeking “immediate discussions” with Brussels to “protect Scotland’s place in the EU” following the so-called Brexit vote.
Sturgeon has said a new Scottish independence referendum is “highly likely”.
European Commissioners are among the most powerful officials in Brussels, with the ability to make laws across a range of policy areas, but the UK will cease to have one when it leaves the EU.