Virgin Media general counsel Scott Dresser has resigned from the company, just over 18 months after his promotion to the top legal role.

The media and telecoms giant announced that Dresser's resignation, for "personal reasons", would be effective immediately, and that he would return to the US in October after assisting with the handover.

Virgin Media stated: "A search partner has been engaged to conduct a formal process to recruit a new general counsel and a succession announcement will be made in due course."

Dresser, who joined the company in 2005 and became deputy general counsel in summer 2008, took up the GC role in January 2011 after longstanding post-holder Bryan Hall announced his retirement.

During his stint as GC Dresser oversaw the appointment of Virgin Media's debut legal panel last year, which saw roles handed to Linklaters, Latham & Watkins and Sullivan & Cromwell as well as existing advisers Ashurst and US firm Fried Frank.

In addition to the main roster, which advises the company on corporate, finance and M&A and supports its in-house legal team, a raft of firms including Simmons & Simmons, Baker & McKenzie and Reed Smith were appointed to provide commercial, industry, employment and regulatory advice.