ROBIN Tough (above) sales director of United Auctions at Stirling for the past four years, is to succeed Alan Watson as managing director of the Stirling operation. Watson has retired after 42 years service with the company.

Tough,43, will be a director of United Auctions Ltd, the core auctioneering company of the UA group. He is joined on the board by Neil McLean (right) ,30, who will act as administration director, with responsibility spanning the company's two main marts at Stirling and Perth.

Tough will continue as principal auctioneer at Stirling and will also have a remit to expand on UA's marketing policy. McLean,who will be based at Stirling, is a part-qualified accountant and a Fellow of the Institute of Auctioneers and Appraisers in Scotland. He recently completed a new finance deal for farmers in association with the Scottish NFU.

David Danson, chief executive of UA Group,

said: ''These appointments strengthen our presence in Stirling and will allow us to improve and develop our range of services to farmers and the rural community in Central Scotland. Stirling is a strategic centre for UA with a crucial role to play in expanding the group's activities.''