Vince Burgess
About Vince Burgess
Vince Burgess, age 60, is an independent director of TELA Bio and Chair of the Compensation Committee; he has served on the Board since 2014. He is a retired medical device executive with prior CEO experience at Acutus Medical and earlier leadership roles at Volcano Corporation; he holds a BS in Business Administration (USC) and an MBA (UCLA) . The Board classifies Burgess as independent under Nasdaq rules and lists his core credentials in marketing, business development, and surgical tools operations .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acutus Medical, Inc. | President & CEO; Director | Oct 2017 – May 2022 | Led a medical device company; board service |
| OrbiMed Advisors, LLC | Venture Partner | Sep 2011 – May 2020 | Healthcare investment experience |
| Volcano Corporation | President, Advanced Imaging Systems; led Marketing & Business Development | 2002 – 2010 | Commercial leadership in imaging systems |
| Bolt Medical | Director | Prior to acquisition by Boston Scientific | Board member until acquisition |
| NeuroPace, Sonendo, Ornim Medical, Keystone Heart, Vessix Vascular, Cryterion Medical, CardiAQ | Director (previously served) | Various | Multiple device company boards |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | — | Other public company directorships: None |
Board Governance
- Committee assignments: Compensation Committee Chair; not listed on Audit or Nominating & Corporate Governance (NCGC) .
- Independence: Independent director; Board independence determination indicates all directors except CEO are independent .
- Attendance and engagement: Board held 13 meetings in 2024; Compensation Committee 7; Audit 5; NCGC 6. Each director attended at least 75% of meetings and attended the 2024 Annual Meeting .
- Board leadership: Independent Chairman (Doug Evans); CEO and Chair roles are separated .
- Executive sessions: Independent directors meet without management on a regular basis .
Fixed Compensation
| Component | Policy Amount | 2024 Actual (Cash) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Director Cash Retainer | $45,000 | $60,000 (includes chair fee) | Compensation Committee Chair retainer $15,000 |
| Committee Chair Retainer (Compensation) | $15,000 | Included in cash above | Aligns with chair role |
| Other Committee Membership Fees | Audit $10,000; Compensation $7,500; NCGC $5,000 | N/A | Not applicable; not shown as member |
| Non-Executive Chairman Retainer | $35,000 | N/A | Burgess is not Chairman |
Performance Compensation
| Equity Award | 2024 Grant Date Fair Value ($) | Unvested Units at 12/31/2024 | Vesting Schedule |
|---|---|---|---|
| RSUs (Annual Equity Award) | $24,268 | 4,250 RSUs | Vest on earlier of 1 year from grant, next annual meeting, or change in control |
| Stock Options (Annual Equity Award) | $23,415 | 6,200 options | Same vesting timing as RSUs (time-based) |
| Initial Equity Award (policy terms) | — | — | Options vest monthly over 36 months; RSUs vest 3 equal annual installments; full vest on change in control; increased award sizes effective Jan 1, 2025 (options 17,550; RSUs 11,925) |
| Annual Equity Award (policy terms) | — | — | Pre-2025: options 6,200; RSUs 4,250; effective Jan 1, 2025 increased to options 11,700; RSUs 7,950 |
Notable structure signal: The Compensation Committee increased director initial and annual equity award sizes effective January 1, 2025, potentially lifting equity-based compensation levels for non-employee directors .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Area | Details |
|---|---|
| Current public company boards | None |
| Compensation Committee members | Burgess (Chair), Evans, Azarbarzin; all independent and non-employee directors |
| Compensation consultant | Aon’s Human Capital Solutions; reports to the Compensation Committee; does not provide other services to the company |
| Interlocks | No compensation committee interlocks or insider participation disclosed for 2024 |
| Family relationships | None among directors/executives |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Expertise in marketing and business development, operational leadership in surgical tools and med-tech; prior CEO and board experience in device companies .
- Education: BS in Business Administration (USC) and MBA (UCLA) .
Equity Ownership
| Measure | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total beneficial ownership | 60,874 shares; less than 1% of shares outstanding |
| Direct common shares | 11,130 shares |
| Options exercisable within 60 days | 49,744 shares |
| Unvested RSUs (12/31/2024) | 4,250 units |
| Unvested options (12/31/2024) | 6,200 options |
| Pledging/Hedging | Company policy prohibits hedging/pledging and short sales for directors |
Governance Assessment
- Board effectiveness: Burgess chairs the Compensation Committee, with documented independence, use of an external consultant (Aon), and a committee remit covering executive/director pay, plan administration, and human capital oversight—supportive of disciplined pay governance . Attendance thresholds were met across meetings, and an independent Board chair strengthens oversight .
- Pay alignment and signals: 2024 director compensation for Burgess comprised $60,000 cash and ~$47,683 in grant-date equity value (mix of RSUs and options), consistent with market structures emphasizing equity alignment . The policy’s increase to award sizes beginning 2025 merits monitoring for pay inflation and potential dilution impacts .
- Conflicts/related-party exposure: No family relationships or compensation committee interlocks; related-party transaction disclosures in 2024 involved cross-ownership by a significant shareholder in a product distribution rights sale but did not implicate Burgess personally . The company maintains a Related Party Transaction Policy overseen by the Audit Committee .
- RED FLAGS: None disclosed specific to Burgess. General governance watch items include increased director equity awards effective 2025 (potential pay inflation), and the presence of cross-ownership in a related-party transaction at the company level (monitor governance processes and Audit Committee oversight) .
Overall, Burgess presents as a seasoned med-tech operator with strong committee leadership and independence, solid attendance, and an equity-heavy director pay structure aligned with shareholder interests; monitoring the 2025 step-up in director equity policy and broader related-party transaction oversight remains prudent for investor confidence .