LONDON, Aug 14 (Reuters) - Barclays FinanceDirector Chris Lucas is stepping down from the bank six monthsahead of his scheduled retirement, citing health reasons, thebank said on Wednesday.
Lucas, aged 52, who has been finance director for a tough sixyears that spanned the global financial crisis, announced hisretirement in February.
"Whilst I had hoped to be able to continue working untilearly next year it is now clear to me that with my health as itis this will no longer be possible," Lucas said in a statement.
The bank announced in July that JPMorgan executiveTushar Morzaria would take over as finance director in Februarynext year.
He will now take up his appointment on 15 October. PeterEstlin, Barclays' group financial controller, will serve asacting finance director until Morzaria's arrival.
Lucas' departure comes just weeks after the British banksaid it would raise 5.8 billion pounds ($8.97 billion) from itsshareholders to plug a larger-than-expected capital shortfallidentified by Britian's financial regulator.
The rights issue, due to be launched in September, will bethe biggest by a British bank since 2009 and will offershareholders one new share at 185 pence for every four currentlyowned.
Barclays shares closed at 284 pence on Tuesday.
"I am very grateful for his support, advice and wisdomduring my first year as Chief Executive. Chris has helpednavigate our company through many challenges during his sixyears with the business," Chief Executive Antony Jenkins said.
Lucas is one of four current and former employees beinginvestigated by UK authorities regarding a capital injection byQatar in 2008.
Lucas's departure has no links to the ongoing investigationsinto Qatar, sources told Reuters at the time of Lucas' originalretirement announcement in February.
He was the only one of Barclays' executive directors to holdonto his job after the bank was fined $450 million in June 2012for rigging the Libor global benchmark interest rate.