At a time when many media bankers are finding deals hard to come by and may be spending more time with their children, going on sabbatical, or being redeployed to the Middle East, Citigroup's Wendell Brooks is taking the boutique banking route.

The American banker, who is head of European TMT, is leaving Citi after 15 years to set up the London operations for Allen & Co, the media advisory boutique founded by Herb Allen - best known for its annual Sun Valley conference that draws the likes of Rupert Murdoch , Bill Gates and Warren Buffett for hunting, fishing and shooting. Mr Brooks is expected to take gardening leave and start his new job in the autumn.