BlueLight Analytics, the Halifax startup that helps dentists ensure they use optimal energy when curing the resin in fillings, has named J.P. Furey its new Chief Executive Officer.

The company said today in a press release that Colin Deacon, the founder who had been CEO for the past six years, would become President and Director. He will report to Furey, who had been CFO since joining the company a year ago.  For the past several months, he had also been COO.

“In JP, we’ve found the person we’ve been looking for to move BlueLight Analytics to the next level,” said Deacon in the statement. “He has the unique ability to balance strategic thinking with a detailed operational focus. . . . We’ve been looking for a new CEO with the skills to accelerate the commercialization of the company’s lead product, checkMARC. In JP, we have found just that person.”

The statement said the appointment was unanimously approved by the board.

As CEO, Deacon has overseen the development of three dental technologies that have been sold to leading universities and manufacturers in more than 18 countries.

“Colin diligently worked to build strong industry and academic relationships globally,” said Furey. “The manner in which BlueLight Analytics’ gateway technologies were commercialized has ultimately led to the opportunity we now have with our flagship technology, checkMARC. I am tremendously excited to lead our focused team as we work to capitalize on that global opportunity.”

Developed from an idea generated at Dalhousie University, checkMARC addresses a major problem in modern dentistry. Dentists make more than half their income from resin-based fillings, but have never been able to ensure they are using the right amount of energy when curing the resin. CheckMARC lets dentists check their curing lights and make sure the energy levels are optimal.

In May, the company said it had signed a distribution agreement with 3M ESPE, a Canadian division of the American conglomerate 3M Co. That followed on its previously announced partnership with Henry Schein, the Melville, N.Y.-based medical product distributer whose 2014 sales exceeded US$10 billion.