STEWART Milne has stepped down from chief executive duties at his Aberdeen-based housebuilding and timber frame systems company.

Mr Milne will focus on long-term strategy in his new role as executive chairman of the Stewart Milne Group.

He has been replaced as chief executive by managing director Glenn Allison.

Mr Milne said: "Over the past few years as the economy has been picking up and confidence in our sector has been improving, we have been taking steps to ensure we are in the best possible position to capitalise on the upturn in house building and realise our growth ambitions.

"The time is now right for us to announce our strategic intent by formalising these plans which include Glenn formally taking up the mantle of CEO, a role which he has to a certain extent already been fulfilling during this period."