Manchester-based molecular diagnostics firm Yourgene Health plc said it “has agreed” that Barry Hextall, its chief financial officer (CFO), will step down from his role as a director “to pursue other opportunities with immediate effect.”

Yourgene Health said: “Barry, who has been with the company for eight years, will provide an orderly handover over the next six months and will remain as company secretary until a full-time successor is appointed.

“Peter Charles, an experienced interim CFO with broad cross sector experience, will take on the CFO role on a short-term basis, in a non-board capacity.

“The process of recruiting a full-time CFO will begin immediately and it is expected to conclude in time for the full-time CFO to benefit from the agreed handover period.”

Yourgene Health chairman John Brown said: “I would like to extend the board’s thanks to Barry for his contribution to Yourgene Health over the last eight years and his willingness to support an orderly handover.

“We wish him the very best for the future and look forward to updating shareholders further in due course.”