London Stock Exchange chief executive Xavier Rolet has left his post, bringing forward a planned departure amid talk that he had been forced to step down, the group said Wednesday.

"London Stock Exchange Group plc announces that, at the board's  request, Xavier Rolet has agreed to step down as CEO with immediate effect," a statement said.

LSEG, which also owns the Milan stock exchange, last month announced that Rolet, who took over in 2009, would leave by the end of 2018.  

Since then however, activist investor The Children's Investment Fund (TCI) questioned whether Rolet chose to leave or was pushed out by a board of directors amid reported concerns over his management style.

Bank of England governor Mark Carney on Tuesday called for clarity on the contested departure and suggested his exit should go ahead, when asked by a reporter about the matter