UPDATE 1-Playboy CFO quits, Golden Gate not buying company

* Playboy's CFO Linda Havard resigns

* Search for new CFO starting immediately

* Golden Gate Capital says not in talks to buy Playboy

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov 16 (Reuters) - The chief financial officer of Playboy Enterprises Inc (PLA.N), Linda Havard, resigned on Monday, effective at the end of the year, the company said.

Playboy Enterprises said in a statement that a search would begin immediately for a successor to Havard, who joined the company in 1997.

Havard said in the statement that she was "looking forward to new challenges", but she gave no specifics.

Separately, Golden Gate Capital said in a statement that "it is not and will not be involved in any way with any potential acquisition of Playboy Enterprises, Inc."

On Nov. 13, a source said that Golden Gate and a former entertainment president at Playboy, Jim Griffiths, were jointly talking to Playboy Enterprises about buying the company for about $300 million. [ID:nN13467167] (Reporting by David Lawsky)