MILAN, Sept 26 (Reuters) - Italian clothing retailer Benetton said on Friday Chief Financial Officer Emilio Foa would leave the company just under two years after he took the post.

Benetton said in a statement Foa was leaving to pursue "a different professional direction" and was going to London.

"The CFO will conclude his activities in the Benetton Group with the approval of quarterly results to 30th September 2008 and his function will be temporarily assigned within the managerial structure," Benetton said.

Foa was named CFO in December 2006, a month after the group announced the resignation of both its then chief executive and chief financial officer.

Benetton said at the time Silvano Cassano had stepped down as chief executive because he disagreed with the way the Benetton family wanted to expand the business overseas.

The chief financial officer at the time, Pier Francesco Facchini, quit for personal reasons. (Editing by Sue Thomas)