LONDON, Oct 15 (Reuters) - Hector Sants, Britain's formertop financial regulator who joined Barclays Plc at thestart of this year as head of compliance, is to take the rest ofthe year off after suffering from exhaustion and stress.
Barclays said on Tuesday Sants had been diagnosed followingfive years at the helm of the Financial Services Authority and abusy start to his role at the bank.
The pressure on bankers, both junior and senior, hasratcheted up since the financial crisis due to job cuts, firesales and increased regulatory scrutiny.
Lloyds Chief Executive Antonio Horta-Osorio tooktwo months off at the end of 2011 on doctors orders aftersuffering sleep deprivation and exhaustion while trying to turnthe bank around. He returned at the start of 2012 and has beenpraised for leading a recovery at Lloyds.
Sants is following medical advice and will be taking a leaveof absence until the end of the year, Barclays said. He isexpected to return to work in the new year.
Sants, who is head of compliance, government affairs andregulatory relations for the bank, sits on the executivecommittee and reports directly to Chief Executive AntonyJenkins. He is not a member of the bank's full board.