Allen & Overy (A&O) global financial institutions head Alistair Asher is joining the Co-op as its new group general counsel as the troubled mutual sets out a £1.5bn rescue plan for its banking arm.

Asher, who has spent more than 34 years at A&O, including 26 as a partner, led on the Co-op’s merger with Britannia Building Society in 2009, as well as Lloyds’ rescue takeover of HBOS in 2008.