Integra LifeSciences, the medical technology powerhouse headquartered in Princeton, announced a major overhaul of its C-suite on Tuesday, headlined by the creation of a new Chief Technology Officer (CTO) role.
The appointments come as CEO Mojdeh Poul, who took the helm in early 2025, moves to tighten the company’s focus on neurosurgery and regenerative tissue technologies. The trio of veteran hires—spanning R&D, legal, and quality control—signals a proactive shift toward “connected care” and streamlined manufacturing as the company prepares to open a massive new facility in Braintree, Massachusetts, later this spring.
In a first for the company, Teshtar Elavia has been named corporate vice president and chief technology officer. Elavia is a MedTech heavyweight with two decades of experience at the industry’s largest players, including Becton Dickinson, Medtronic and Johnson & Johnson.
As CTO, Elavia will manage Integra’s R&D roadmap, focusing on:
- Digital integration: Transitioning traditional surgical tools into “connected” medical devices.
- Pipeline speed: Accelerating the regulatory path for flagship products like the SurgiMend and PriMatrix tissue matrices.
- M&A strategy: Identifying emerging startups and technologies to bolster Integra’s leading position in neurocritical care.
“Creating a dedicated CTO role is a decisive step in how we are building Integra for the future,” CEO Mojdeh Poul stated. “Innovation is a core strategic imperative for us.”
In addition to the CTO role, Integra filled two other critical leadership gaps:
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Michael Hutchinson (chief legal officer): Hutchinson joins with a resume that includes overseeing more than 80 global acquisitions at firms like Stryker and LivaNova. He will oversee legal, compliance, and Integra’s Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives.
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Kerri DiPietro (chief quality officer): Moving over from Haemonetics and Boston Scientific, DiPietro is tasked with a “transformation” of Integra’s quality management systems. Her appointment follows a period of heightened regulatory scrutiny for the company’s manufacturing processes.
The leadership shakeup arrives just weeks before Integra is set to release its 2025 full-year financial results on Feb. 26. Analysts are watching to see if this new team can stabilize the stock’s recent volatility and successfully execute the “In-China-for-China” manufacturing initiative.
