Weir Group chief executive Keith Cochrane has said “heads must rule hearts” when the time comes for people to decide Scotland’s future.
He claimed the Scottish Government’s white paper on independence painted a picture of separation as being a “risk-free option” with only “potential benefits” – but “more facts and less emotion” was needed in the debate.
Mr Cochrane, who has no links to the pro-UK campaign group Better Together, said: “Voters should be aware that what they are being asked to say yes to carries substantial risks to our economy, and therefore the quality of life of millions of people.
“Of course the economy is just one consideration in this debate, but it is vitally important if Scotland is to continue to be a prosperous nation.
“I share the strong emotional tie we all have to our country but in the referendum debate heads must rule hearts.”
Mr Cochrane said Scotland was already a successful country and, although he would be voting no on September 18, he was not telling his 600 staff in Scotland what they should do.
“Like most people I was pretty sceptical about the independence proposition but I was open-minded,” he said.
“We all awaited the white paper with considerable interest, but when it was published it was clear there were still some serious questions, so that is why, as a responsible business, we published this research.”
Mr Cochrane, who thinks proposals to boost Holyrood’s powers in the event of a no vote have merit, said the analysis had helped him to understand and appreciate the scale of some of the challenges.
“It is clear there are potential benefits and others may take the view those benefits are more certain than are published in this report, but as a businessman I rely on facts and certainty and I look at what the numbers say.”
He said uncertainty over Scotland’s future had made Weir Group “very cautious” in committing to new projects and it would have to “review” its position with regard to being headquartered in Glasgow in the event of a yes vote.