Deutsche Börse’s chief financial officer is to quit in a surprise split over business differences, leaving the company without one of the key proponents of its cost-cutting measures at a time when the financial crisis is hitting trading volumes at stock and derivative exchanges worldwide.

Thomas Eichelmann is to leave less than two years after joining the German exchange group, Europe’s largest by market capitalisation. The company said Mr Eichelmann’s mandate on its executive board would at finish he end of April “as a result of partial differences concerning individual business aspects, but in positive accord with the supervisory board”.