THE new chief executive of Bede yesterday told The Northern Echo that he was "excited" about his future with the troubled x-ray technology firm.

The Durham plc, which supplies x-ray metrology tools to the semiconductor industry, but has endured several difficult years, announced the appointment of Hugh Rudden on Thursday.

Mr Rudden, who has a background of more than 20 years in the semiconductor distribution segment of the industry, said he saw "huge potential" in the company.

"The thing that is exciting me about Bede is that it has got the technology that will move the semiconductor industry forward as the metrology issues get more difficult," he said.

"Bede has got potential, without doubt. The semiconductor industry has been the driver of prosperity in our world over the past 30 years and this is a company that can help the semiconductor industry move on to the next stage."

The role of chief executive has been vacant since Dr Neil Loxley resigned in January last year. He had been part of Bede's senior management team for 18 years and led its float onto the Alternative Investment Market in 2000.

The company, which has its headquarters in Belmont Business Park, near Durham City, was founded in 1978 by Professor Brian Tanner and three colleagues from Durham University.

It has hit difficult times in recent years. It issued a profits warning in 2005 and last year report full-year pre-tax losses of £3.6m on revenues of £6m.

Earlier this month, the company said losses for the first quarter of this year had narrowed to £1.14m, while revenue had climbed £330,000 to £1.38m.

Bede has also undergone a recent restructuring programme, which has led to a number of job cuts, taking the number of people it employs in Durham down to 55. It also employs 13 people in the US and 15 in the Czech Republic.

The firm's share price closed last night at 5.13p.