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The shock resignation, which was announced to Virgin staff at lunchtime today, is believed to be for family reasons.

Pearson’s decision to quit will come as a body blow to parent company Scottish Media Group, which has had to field reports in recent weeks of interest in Virgin Radio from the agent of former owner Chris Evans.

Speculation has also been increasing in recent weeks over the fate of a number of leading radio brands following the recent GWR-Capital merger.

SMG has already mounted a firm defence of its position and pledged to find a replacement for Pearson over the next six months.

Callum Spreng, corporate affairs director for SMG, said the company would look at both internal and external candidates and believed that would be “no shortage” of people interested in the job.

He added: “We will think their will be a fair degree of high calibre interested in the job.”

“We are in the luxurious position of having until the spring to fill the job. John will be at the helm, has always been very passionate about Virgin Radio.

“He’ll run that business until it’s time for him to leave. By which time we are confident we’ll have a strong successor.”

Pearson has said the decision to leave was to improve his “work/life balance”.

John Pearson said: I leave the station with a strong management team and in a great position entering a digital radio world.

“My 12 years with Virgin Radio have been a fantastic and unrepeatable experience and I’ve really enjoyed working for SMG.

Andrew Flanagan, chief executive of SMG, said: “John is an excellent businessman and a dynamic leader.  I’d love him to stay but respect his reasons for leaving.

“It’s been a pleasure to work with him. SMG will miss him, as will all the colleagues and friends who have worked alongside him over the years.

“I’m personally delighted that John has agreed to stay with us until the spring, by which time I’m confident we’ll have found a suitable successor for one of the top jobs in commercial radio in Britain today.”