THE top boss at CalMac is to stand down next year after less than five years with the company.

Martin Dorchester, Managing Director of CalMac Ferries Ltd, and Chief Executive of its parent company David MacBrayne Ltd has announced his intention to step down from the company at the end of March 2017.

His decision comes in the wake of the company successfully securing the £900m contract to operate West Coast ferry services for up to eight years, and David MacBrayne Ltd’s successful joint bid with GBA Ltd, for the £1 billion contract to operate the Marchwood Military Port in Southampton for the next 35 years.

Mr Dorchester, who joined CalMac in May 2012, said: “It has been a huge privilege to work at such an iconic Scottish company. When I joined the company my primary task was to win the next Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services (CHFS) contract, and with that now done I believe it is the right time to step down and seek a new challenge.”