Mark Fryer has been appointed as the interim chief financial officer (CFO) at Dialight, as well as executive director at the group, effective from 6 January 2025.

He joins the firm, which provides LED lighting for heavy industrial applications, after its previous CFO, Carolyn Zhang, stepped down from the role last month for personal reasons.

Fryer is a qualified accountant and has held roles, including as a director, at firms including Augean Limited, Franchise Brands and Anexo Group.

The announcement comes after Dialight announced its delayed half-year results, which saw it rebound from an operating loss of $2.5m (£1.96m) in the six months to 30 September 2023 to a profit of $900,000 (£706,000) in the same period in 2024.

Following the results, chief executive officer at Dialight, Steve Blair, said: "The current state of the economies in which we operate provides a cautious outlook for capital expenditures across various sectors.

"High underlying inflation and ongoing labour shortages are major constraints, causing delays in project timelines and deferring investment decisions. The petrochemical industry, in particular, faces additional uncertainty due to fluctuating demand and unpredictable energy prices.

"There is added hesitation and increased uncertainty following the recent US election as businesses anticipate potential policy changes, further delaying capital commitments. However, the relentless focus by management on executing the transformation plan is beginning to show positive results and provides a solid foundation to achieve our medium-term ambitions. With this background, the board is confident that further progress will be made in the second half of the year."

---