ECO-FRIENDLY business Plan Bee has announced the appointment of Michael Lees as chairman, taking over from Jim Hall of Kelvin Capital, who is standing down.

Mr Lees' previous roles include managing director of Tennent Caledonian Breweries UK, and he described working with the beehive-management company as "an exciting opportunity encompassing the challenge of creating a strategy to get across the ethical message of the plight of bees, whilst also building the Plan Bee brand and operations".

The Motherwell-based company's founder and CEO Warren Bader said Mr Lees' experience will help develop the business, for example opening international markets.

Earlier this year the firm raised £105,500 via crowdfunding and it has also secured capital from Kelvin Capital and the Scottish Investment Bank.