Robert Zoellick, US deputy secretary of state and former US trade representative, announced on Monday he would leave the government to take up a senior post at Goldman Sachs.

His resignation to take the job of vice-chairman, international, for Goldman Sachs is the latest in a string of departures of long-serving officials from the administration of President George W. Bush. These have included Andrew Card, White House chief of staff, and John Snow, Treasury secretary.