Adelaide-based biotechnology company TekCyte Limited has appointed a new co-CEO leadership team as it prepares to expand its global footprint.
The dual appointment sees Tony Simula, TekCyte’s founding CEO, joined by Tara James, a commercial strategist and founder of Small and Mighty Group.
The two leaders bring contrasting but complementary skill sets to the role, with the company signalling the move is designed to accelerate the global commercialisation of its flagship technology, BIOINVISIBLE.
TekCyte’s drug-free, surface coating technology has garnered international attention for its potential to reduce infections and blood clots on medical devices.
Developed in South Australia, BIOINVISIBLE physically resists bacterial build-up and clotting, offering applications in both the medical and industrial sectors.
The company says the innovation could play a significant role in reducing health burdens and associated costs worldwide.
In a statement released this week, TekCyte positioned the co-CEO move as part of a broader strategy to sharpen its focus and respond to increasing demand.
The company joins a small group of global firms, including Netflix, Salesforce, and Atlassian, that have adopted shared leadership models.
James, who has been working with TekCyte since 2021 in a consultancy capacity, has been instrumental in shaping the company’s investor and market strategies.
In addition to her new executive role, she will continue to lead her firm, Small and Mighty Group, supported by a senior management team.
“Co-CEOs work when there’s trust, respect, and a shared vision,” James said. “And Tony and I have been building that for years. We’re stepping into bigger markets, bigger opportunities, and bigger challenges. Having two leaders at the top gives us the focus, agility, and skills to meet those challenges and make a real impact on the world stage.”
Simula, who has led TekCyte since its inception in 2018, brings a deep background in biomedical research.
He played a foundational role in transitioning the company from a research initiative within the University of South Australia’s Cell Therapy Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre to a commercial enterprise.
“This is the right leadership move at exactly the right time,” Simula said. “It’s not about splitting a job but expanding our leadership capacity so TekCyte can move faster, think bigger, and deliver stronger outcomes for our partners, our investors, and ultimately, the patients and industries we serve.”
TekCyte said it is now focused on scaling up the presence of BIOINVISIBLE in both medical and industrial markets, while accelerating innovation and forming new global partnerships.
