Andreu Mas-Colell, an economist at Pompeu Fabra university in Barcelona Spain, has stepped down early from his post as secretary general of the European Research Council (ERC), a €7.5 billion (US$11 billion) pan-European initiative to fund frontier research judged solely on excellence.

Mas-Colell’s term was due to end in December next year. But he has taken early leave, announced yesterday, as the ERC reorganises its management structure which will see Mas-Colell’s job merged with that of the director of the council’s executive body. The ERC is currently looking for a candidate who is “a distinguished scientist with robust administrative experience” for the director’s position. Jack Metthey, a European Commission official, is the interim director.

Science Business reports that the announcement ends speculation over when Mas-Colell would step down.

The ERC was established in 2007. An international panel led by the former president of Latvia, Vaira Vike-Freiberga, reviewed the council’s progress last year and called for the restructuring saying the existing management was a source of “great frustration and low-level conflict”.

It recommended recruiting a top scientist with managerial experience from outside the European Commission to run the ERC’s administration. Mas-Colell told Science Business he was in favour of the merger in an interview last year.

Prior to the publication of panel’s review, Nature revealed last July that the European Commission’s strict rules on finance and administration were hampering efforts by the ERC to fund scientists.

Mas-Colell is returning to his university post and will also take up a new position as chair of a panel helping the European Commission to develop indicators to measure innovation.

In a statement announcing his resignation Mas-Colell said it has been a “privilege” to work for the ERC.

Helga Nowotny, president of the ERC described his resignation as “a great loss”.