TELA Bio Announces Addition of Betty Jo Rocchio to Board of Directors and the Departure of Director Lisa Colleran

Rhea-AI Summary

TELA Bio (NASDAQ: TELA) announced on October 9, 2025 the appointment of Betty Jo Rocchio, DNP, RN, CRNA, CENP, EBP-C, to its Board of Directors and the departure of director Lisa Colleran after five years of service.

Dr. Rocchio is Executive Vice President and Chief Nurse Executive at Advocate Health, overseeing more than 42,000 nurses and leading enterprise nursing strategy across a six-state system; the company highlighted her expertise in group purchasing organizations and supply-chain alignment. Ms. Colleran, CEO of IC Surgical and former CEO of LifeCell, stepped down after contributing commercial leadership since 2020.

Positive

• Added board member with supply-chain and GPO expertise
• New director oversees 42,000 nurses, enhancing clinical insight

Negative

• Loss of director Lisa Colleran after five years reduces commercial leadership continuity

MALVERN, Pa., Oct. 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TELA Bio, Inc. (“TELA Bio”) (NASDAQ: TELA), a commercial-stage medical technology company focused on providing innovative soft-tissue reconstruction solutions, today announced the appointment of Betty Jo Rocchio, DNP, RN, CRNA, CENP, EBP-C, to its Board of Directors, and the departure of Lisa Colleran, who has stepped down following five years of service on the Board.

Dr. Rocchio is a nationally recognized healthcare leader and one of Modern Healthcare’s 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives. She brings decades of experience in advancing clinical excellence, workforce innovation, and supply-chain transformation across some of the nation’s largest health systems. Currently Executive Vice President and Chief Nurse Executive at Advocate Health, she leads more than 42,000 nurses and directs the enterprise-wide nursing strategy across a six-state system.

“We are thrilled to welcome Betty Jo to our Board of Directors,” said Antony Koblish, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of TELA Bio. “Her deep expertise in the group purchasing organization space and her proven ability to align clinical priorities with supply-chain strategy will be critical as we continue to drive value for our customers and shareholders.”

“I am honored to join the Board of Directors at TELA Bio,” said Dr. Rocchio. “Throughout my career, I’ve seen the critical role group purchasing organizations play in aligning clinical excellence with financial sustainability. TELA Bio is uniquely positioned to partner with providers and GPOs to deliver solutions that reduce costs while enhancing patient outcomes. I look forward to contributing to this important mission.”

TELA Bio also announced that Lisa Colleran has stepped down from the Board after five years of service. Ms. Colleran, CEO of IC Surgical and former CEO of LifeCell Corporation, has provided extensive leadership and commercial expertise since joining the Board in 2020.

“On behalf of the Board and the entire TELA Bio team, I want to thank Lisa for her invaluable contributions over the past five years,” said Mr. Koblish. “Her insights, perspective, and commitment have been instrumental as we advanced our strategy, expanded our portfolio, and grew our commercial footprint. We are grateful for her service and wish her continued success.”

About Betty Jo Rocchio, DNP, RN, CRNA, CENP, EBP-C

Currently Executive Vice President and Chief Nurse Executive at Advocate Health, Dr. Rocchio previously served as Mercy’s Senior Vice President and Chief Nurse Executive prior to which she held roles as the Chief Nursing Optimization Officer and Vice President of Perioperative Services. Prior to joining Mercy, Betty Jo held several leadership positions in the Mount Carmel Health System in Columbus, Ohio, including Chief Nurse Anesthetist, System Director of Surgical Services, and Vice President of Nursing and Chief Nursing Officer.

Most recently, Dr. Rocchio earned a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in the Nurse Executive track from The Ohio State University. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing and an associate’s degree in business administration from the Franciscan University of Steubenville. She began her career in direct patient care as a registered nurse (RN) in the intensive care unit before pursuing certification as a registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) while simultaneously completing a master’s degree in health sciences at LaRoche College.

Dr. Rocchio is certified in Executive Nurse Practice (CENP) by the American Organization for Nursing Leadership and in Evidence-Based Practice (EBP-C) by the Helene Fuld Health Trust National Institute of Evidence-based Practice in Nursing and Healthcare at The Ohio State University. She also serves on the Medtronic Chief Nurse Advisory Board and the UKG Chief Nurse Advisory Board.

About TELA Bio, Inc.

TELA Bio, Inc. (NASDAQ: TELA) is a commercial-stage medical technology company focused on providing innovative technologies that optimize clinical outcomes by prioritizing the preservation and restoration of the patient’s own anatomy. The Company is committed to providing surgeons with advanced, economically effective soft-tissue reconstruction solutions that leverage the patient’s natural healing response while minimizing long-term exposure to permanent synthetic materials. For more information, visit www.telabio.com.

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “may,” “might,” “will,” “should,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “continue,” “predict,” “forecast,” “project,” “plan,” “intend,” or similar expressions are forward-looking statements and reflect the current beliefs of TELA Bio’s management. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially. These risks and uncertainties are described more fully in the “Risk Factors” section and elsewhere in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release, and TELA Bio assumes no obligation to update them, except as required by law.

Investor Contact
Louisa Smith
ir@telabio.com

FAQ

Who did TELA (NASDAQ: TELA) appoint to its board on October 9, 2025?

TELA appointed Betty Jo Rocchio, DNP, RN, CRNA, CENP, EBP-C to its Board of Directors on October 9, 2025.

What experience does Betty Jo Rocchio bring to TELA's board?

She leads enterprise nursing at Advocate Health, directing strategy for more than 42,000 nurses and has expertise in group purchasing organizations and supply-chain transformation.

When did Lisa Colleran step down from TELA's board and how long did she serve?

Lisa Colleran stepped down effective October 9, 2025, after serving on the board for five years since 2020.

How might Betty Jo Rocchio's appointment affect TELA's commercial strategy?

Her GPO and supply-chain experience may support efforts to align clinical priorities with purchasing strategy and customer value creation.

Does the board change at TELA include any executive leadership departures?

No executive officers were reported departing; the announcement notes a board member change only.