Richard Firminger, Yahoo's regional sales director for Northern Europe and the face of the company's search operation in the UK, has quit the company.

The announcement comes amid a storm of news surrounding Yahoo's rejection of Microsoft's $44bn buyout bid and talks of a possible merger with AOL.

Firminger's departure adds to the growing list of senior UK executives leaving the company.

Commercial director Blake Chandlee, head of agency strategy Stephen Haines and group head Jon Harvey all left Yahoo late last year to join social networking site Facebook.

Prior to Yahoo, Firminger was UK managing director of mobile marketing firm Enpocket, which was acquired by Nokia last year for around £100m.

Although Firminger has left without another position lined up, his resignation is not believed to be part of the company's recent announcement that will be cutting 1,000 jobs worldwide.

It is thought that Firminger will be taking time out before re-entering the online sector.