The long-serving managing director of auction mart firm Lawrie and Symington is to retire at the end of the week after 38 years with the company.
Hunter Murray’s early retirement was confirmed last night by company chairman Brian Dickie.
Mr Murray has been general manager and managing director of the Lanark-based business for more than a decade.
Mr Dickie added: “Hunter will be 60 in March. The directors thank him for his loyal service and wish him all the very best for the future.” He said Mr Murray’s early retirement was in no way linked to recent problems at Lawrie and Symington’s Forfar Mart subsidiary.
It posted a £1.14million loss for 2012. Two members of staff have left the Forfar business after Lawrie and Symington carried out an internal investigation which uncovered alleged accounting problems. Police have since been called in to investigate.
Mr Dickie said in a report to Lawrie and Symington’s annual meeting that the losses were due to two substantial bad debts. He said in his report that company records had allegedly been changed to hide the debts from the main board and its auditors.
Mr Dickie added: “Hunter’s retirement is absolutely not related to that, and I want to stress that. His early retirement is by mutual agreement.”
Mr Dickie said the search would now start for a replacement for Mr Murray.