John Archer, the chief executive of Scottish Screen, the national film agency, has quit his position after five years.

Archer has been under fire since May, when it was revealed that the agency's lottery panel had awarded a £24,000 development grant to a film directed by his wife, Clara Glynn.

While Archer was not directly involved in the decision, the discovery was particularly damaging for the agency, which is currently being scrutinised by politicians over its future.

Archer is also believed to have been at odds with the board of Scottish Screen over his plans for a management restructure of the agency.

In addition to allegations of 'cronyism', the body has been under fire recently for not funding a wide enough range of films, or enough commercially successful ones.

Archer will stay in his position until a successor has been appointed.