HAVELOCK Europa has announced that Eric Prescott has left his post as chief executive with immediate effect and resigned as a director of the company.

It comes after the Fife-based interior specialist confirmed on January 30 that Mr Prescott planned to step down during the course of the year.

Havelock said the process of identifying a successor, which it began in January, is continuing as planned, and that an announcement will be made in "due course".

The company also said that David Ritchie has been appointed to the board as chief operating officer. Mr Ritchie, who joined as group commercial manager in 2013, will work alongside finance director Ciaran Kennedy.