Integra's Leadership Overhaul Signals Major Strategic Transformation

PRINCETON, N.J. – February 17, 2026 – Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation today announced a significant restructuring of its executive team, a move that signals a deliberate and multi-faceted strategy to accelerate growth, sharpen its innovative edge, and reinforce its operational integrity. The Nasdaq-listed medical technology firm has appointed three new senior leaders, most notably creating a new chief technology officer position to spearhead its research and development efforts.

Teshtar Elavia has been named corporate vice president and the company's first-ever chief technology officer (CTO). He is joined by Michael Hutchinson, who steps in as executive vice president and chief legal officer, and Kerri DiPietro, who will serve as corporate vice president and chief quality officer. The appointments, which drew a positive initial reaction from the market with Integra's stock (IART) gaining 4.72%, are seen as a decisive move by CEO Mojdeh Poul to equip the company with seasoned leadership capable of navigating the complex and competitive MedTech landscape.

An Innovation Engine Reimagined

The creation of a dedicated CTO role is the centerpiece of Integra's announcement, underscoring a strategic pivot to build what the company calls a “more connected innovation engine.” This move comes as the company dedicates significant resources to its future, with R&D expenditures in 2024 representing 7.9% of its total revenue, or approximately $144.9 million. As CTO, Teshtar Elavia is tasked with aligning the company's vast R&D priorities with its strategic goals, with a clear mandate to accelerate the impact and speed of product development.

Elavia brings over two decades of experience from industry giants like Becton Dickinson, Eli Lilly, Medtronic, and Johnson & Johnson. His background spans critical areas such as minimally invasive surgery, regenerative medicine, and connected care—all vital to Integra’s core markets in neurosurgery and tissue reconstruction. His most recent role involved leading R&D for Becton Dickinson’s Medical Delivery Solutions business, where he was responsible for driving growth in high-value markets. His appointment is expected to invigorate Integra’s innovation pipeline, which has recently seen progress with the FDA 510(k) clearance for its CUSA® Clarity system in cardiac surgeries and positive regulatory notifications for products like DuraSorb® and SurgiMend®.

“Creating a dedicated chief technology officer role is a decisive step in how we are building Integra for the future,” said Mojdeh Poul, president and CEO of Integra LifeSciences. “Innovation is a core strategic imperative for us, and Teshtar brings deep experience translating emerging technologies into impactful solutions.” Elavia will also be responsible for identifying emerging trends and technologies, a crucial function as the MedTech industry increasingly looks toward artificial intelligence and advanced digital platforms to improve patient outcomes.

Fortifying Governance and Quality

Beyond pure innovation, Integra is making a concerted effort to strengthen its foundational pillars of legal compliance and product quality. The appointments of Michael Hutchinson and Kerri DiPietro are not merely routine executive changes but a direct response to the operational and regulatory pressures inherent in the medical device sector.

Kerri DiPietro’s arrival as chief quality officer is particularly significant in the context of the company’s ongoing efforts to enhance its quality management systems. Integra initiated a company-wide “Compliance Master Plan” in 2024 to systematically address and improve its processes. This initiative followed a period where the company faced operational headwinds, including a significant product recall originating from its Boston facility that impacted 2024 revenues, as well as intermittent ship holds and production constraints that affected its Orthopedics and Tissue Technologies segment. DiPietro, who joins from Haemonetics and previously held senior roles at Boston Scientific, will now lead the execution of this master plan. Her deep experience in transforming global quality systems is seen as critical to ensuring product reliability and regulatory adherence, thereby rebuilding and maintaining trust with healthcare providers.

Simultaneously, Michael Hutchinson takes the legal helm as chief legal officer, overseeing global legal, compliance, and ESG functions. An attorney with over 20 years of experience at firms like LivaNova, Stryker, and Varian Medical Systems, Hutchinson has managed complex litigation, corporate governance, and, notably, more than 80 acquisitions and integrations. His expertise will be invaluable as Integra continues to pursue strategic growth, such as its recent $275 million acquisition of Acclarent to expand its footprint in the ENT market. His leadership is expected to provide robust legal oversight and risk management as the company navigates an increasingly stringent global regulatory environment.

A Trio for Transformation

Viewed collectively, the three appointments represent a holistic strategy by CEO Mojdeh Poul to transform Integra from the top down. The move assembles a leadership team with a balanced focus on forward-looking innovation, rigorous compliance, and strategic execution. This leadership reinforcement comes at a pivotal time for the company, which recorded a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of approximately $511 million in mid-2025, citing macroeconomic uncertainties and supply chain challenges.

“Together with the additions of Kerri and Mike, these appointments reflect our commitment to assembling a seasoned, highly respected leadership team that can deliver our transformation and drive long-term value,” Poul stated, framing the hires as integral to the company's future success. This new trio is tasked with charting a course through a competitive field dominated by behemoths like Medtronic and Stryker, ensuring that Integra can not only keep pace but also lead in its specialized fields.

As Integra prepares for its upcoming full-year 2025 earnings release on February 26, investors and industry analysts will be watching closely for further details on how this new leadership team plans to execute on the company's vision. The strategic appointments signal a clear intention to address past challenges head-on while aggressively pursuing future growth, setting a new tone and direction for the New Jersey-based medical technology firm.