The chief executive of Dawson International steps down

The chief executive of Kinross-based textile firm Dawson International has stepped down.

Andy Bartness took on the top post three years ago. The departure comes amid warnings of falling profits and a large pension deficit.

Dawson, which produces cashmere jerseys and fine bed linen, last year sold its Todd and Duncan cashmere yarn business to a Chinese firm for £6.1m.

The company's chairman, David Bolton, will now become chief executive.

Dawson revealed in March that its pension liabilities had almost trebled over the year to £19.3m.

At that time, the company said it would continue its dialogue during the second half of the year "to address our key priority of reducing the pension deficit and associated costs".

In August it revealed its operating loss climbed year-on-year from £3.1m to £3.4m for the six months to 3 July.