Nick Leeson, the rogue trader whose wrong-way bets on Japanese stocks ruined Barings Plc, Britain's oldest investment bank, is joining GDP Partnership to help advise Irish borrowers seeking to re- negotiate debts with their banks in the wake of the real estate bubble collapse.

Mr Leeson, who has lived in Ireland for over ten years, will join GDP as a principal as it expands into Dublin, the company said in a statement tweeted by Mr Leeson.

"I've faced into a number of difficult situations in the past and ultimately seen them turn for the better. It is often difficult to see the solution but rest assured there is always one available," Mr Leeson said in the statement.

"There is a lot of fear and stress currently in the country with debt the root of the problem.”

PA