the company said yesterday.

Although a successor has not yet been named, Mr. Malcolm Simpson, presently the financial controller, has been appointed to act as general manager in the interim.

Mr. Brown has been with the company for 34 years. He will officially retire on July 30.

"Although the company has no official retirement policy, Mr. Brown has reached the normal retiring age of 65 and felt it was the right time to step down,'' the company said.