Jon set up Axis Spine Technologies to bring to life an idea he felt could improve the outcomes of patients undergoing spine surgery. In a career in spine spanning nearly 30 years, Jon has a creative, solution focused approach. Anterior surgery and in particular, minimally invasive anterior surgery, has been a big part of his journey in spine. Starting with the first spinal procedure he observed, an ALIF with pioneering surgeon ‘Jack The Back’ to launching the world’s first stand-alone ALIF cage, STALIF™ Jon has developed a passion and deep knowledge for anterior surgery.
Axis comes after several positions in sales, product management, product development, product launch, sales leadership, M&A strategy and country leadership roles. Jon has worked for Global brands such as Johnson & Johnson as well as University spin-out start-ups.
Axis-ALIF is an idea to advance surgeons ability of re-creating spinal alignment whilst addressing long-term industry frustrations with inventory management and the cost of inventory. The Axis-ALIF and future products; Axis-LATERAL and Axis-OBLIQUE offer surgeons un-matched versatility in how they address spinal alignment, whilst reducing inventory and waste. Doing more, with less.
Outside of work, Jon has a passion for skiing, cars and motorsport. He enjoys ice skating with one of his daughters, watching Wales play rugby and travelling.

Alex is a commercially focused CFO with over two decades of financial leadership in the life sciences, medical devices, and technology sectors. His experience spans innovative start-ups to top-tier multinationals, equipping him with a versatile toolkit to address diverse business challenges across international markets.

At Axis, Alex partners closely with CEO Jon Arcos to drive financial strategy, operational efficiency, and profitability. Beyond his financial responsibilities, Alex oversees Axis’ UK and US operations, including IT, HR, and legal functions. A trusted advisor and collaborative business partner, he excels in working with talented executive teams to drive growth and optimize company, product, and technology launches.

Prior to joining Axis, Alex demonstrated success in both global and regional roles within complex business environments. Notable career highlights include his strategic role at Zogenix as the Finance Director for EMEA, where he was instrumental in the rapid growth and successful sale of the company. At Travelport, a $2.2bn travel platform, Alex played a key role in IPO preparation and co-created an investor relations function pivotal to the company’s performance in a newly NYSE-listed environment. As Financial Planning Manager at healthcare giant Allergan, he controlled a $300m P&L and played a leading role in accelerating growth in emerging markets.

Alex is known for his people-focused leadership style and his passion for working with diverse business and scientific teams. Outside of his professional responsibilities, Alex enjoys spending time with his family, travelling, and serving as a Trustee and Treasurer for Dravet Syndrome UK.

With a proven track record in driving financial success and operational excellence, Alex is dedicated to advancing Axis’ mission and ensuring sustainable growth.

Marc brings over 25 years of expertise in medical devices, primarily in spine-related solutions, to his role at Axis. Marc has a robust background in both R&D and commercial sectors, as well as Business Strategy in senior and executive roles, at both multinationals as well as start-ups. Marc has been pivotal in driving new product launches from concept through research and development to clinical and market introduction. He has a MSc and a PhD in Biomechanical Engineering and holds nineteen filed patents.

Marc has worked and lived in five countries. At the start of his career, he transferred from AcroMed, The Netherlands, to AcroMed Corp. in the USA, leading the introduction of a major low back system and CFRP Cages. Marc then moved to DePuy Spine, Johnson & Johnson EMEA/AsPac in the UK and NL, where he built up a significant R&D and Clinical Research portfolio. Later, as Managing Director and CTO of Silony Medical GmbH in Stuttgart, Germany, Marc led a team of 30 R&D, QA/RA, and clinical specialists, delivering a considerable range of innovative spinal products.

More recently, before joining Axis, Marc served as CEO at Gannet Implants BV, where he advanced femoral neck fracture fixation technology.

Outside of work, Marc enjoys spending time with his family, long walks in the country side, cooking, and reading historical novels.

Ivo is a seasoned commercial leader with over 25 years of marketing and sales experience in the global orthopedic and spine medical devices sector.

At Axis, Ivo leads all strategic commercial and clinical initiatives, leveraging his specialized knowledge in spine. He oversees commercial strategy, brand and product management, digital marketing, and clinical research. As a member of Axis’ leadership team, he excels in cross-functional collaboration with Sales, R&D, QA/RA, Operations, and Finance. Ivo is often described as the ‘cement between the organizational bricks’.

Ivo’s journey in the medical devices industry began with foundational roles in marketing and sales, where he quickly distinguished himself through his strategic insights and ability to drive growth. His leadership was instrumental in several high-impact projects. At Medtronic, he was part of the team launching a minimally invasive surgery (MIS) spine platform, giving Medtronic a leading role in the MIS space. At Intrinsic Therapeutics, a US-based spinal startup, Ivo and his team delivered the first-to-market PMA disc closure implant, highlighting his expertise in new product development and market introduction.

His career is marked by a consistent track record of establishing strong market positions for new products. Ivo’s strategic acumen and deep industry knowledge have enabled him to navigate complex market landscapes, contributing decisively to the success of each organization he has been part of.

Beyond his professional achievements, Ivo is passionate about cycling, particularly completing challenging Gran Fondos such as La Marmotte and the Otztaler Cycling Marathon.

Gant is a seasoned sales leader in the spine industry, with a career marked by remarkable progress and consistent achievement. His entrepreneurial mindset and problem-solving skills have driven his success, enabling him to navigate industry complexities and reach significant milestones.

At Axis, Gant leverages his commercial experience and innovative mindset to foster a culture of excellence and continuous improvement. His hands-on approach and strategic initiatives have been crucial in developing the company’s market presence and operational effectiveness. Gant’s leadership is marked by his ability to collaborate with all stakeholders, inspire teams, drive innovation, and implement strategies that result in substantial business growth, ensuring Axis’s expanding footprint in the spine market.

Before joining Axis, Gant had a distinguished career in the medical device sector. Starting as a Sales Representative, he quickly rose through the ranks to roles such as Manager, Director, and ultimately Vice President of Sales. His impactful tenures at companies like Globus Medical, LDR, Zimmer Biomet, and Camber Spine were characterized by consistent revenue growth and management of award-winning territories.

Outside of work, Gant is passionate about fitness and the outdoors, enjoying cycling, boating in summer, and snow skiing in winter. An avid cyclist and mountain bike racer, he dedicates significant time to these activities, emphasizing fitness and community engagement. His love for the outdoors is shared with his family through many adventures.

Simon Cartmell is a seasoned business leader with extensive experience in both pharmaceuticals and medical devices. He successfully led ApaTech from a university spin-out to a $330 million acquisition by Baxter International. Simon has also served as an Operating Partner with a prominent UK venture capital firm. Currently, among other assignments, he is Chairman of OssDsign, a spinal biologics company focusing on US expansion, and MatOrtho, a leading UK joint reconstruction business.

John Sutcliffe is a spinal neurosurgeon who has significantly contributed to advancements in spinal care and product development throughout his career. Prior to jointly founding Axis Spine Technologies, he worked with other companies designing successful spinal implants. He has held prestigious positions at Barts and The Royal London NHS trust and founded and has run London Spine Clinic on Harley Street for 27 years. John has numerous publications and has collaborated with surgeon peers worldwide, maintaining a strong network, particularly in the US.

Ted Davis trained as a biomedical engineer and began his post-business school career in the life sciences venture capital industry before transitioning to leadership roles in the medical device industry. At Wright Medical, he led the company’s strategic transformation to an extremities and biologics leader and executed the sale of the orthorecon business segment to Microport Scientific. With a wealth of experience in US medical devices, Ted is currently the CEO of BioTissue Holdings, Inc, a regenerative medicine company based in Miami, FL focused on ocular and surgical patient indications.

Mercia Asset Management

Alex Gwyther joined the Board of Axis in April 2024, succeeding Peter Dines who initiated Mercia's first investment into Axis. Alex is an Investment Manager for Mercia’s VCT funds and serves on the boards of several healthcare portfolio companies. He holds a degree in Biological Sciences and an MSc in Science Communication.

MedTex Ventures

Stephan Ogilvie brings over a decade of experience in spine with Medtronic and Nuvasive, where he led business development and executed numerous acquisitions. Steve has also spent many years in investment banking, raising capital for private and public companies. Currently, Steve is an advisor to MedTex Ventures and the CEO of CardioFocus.

WakeMed Orthopaedic, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States of America

Dr. Gurvinder S. Deol is a board certified (FAAOS), fellowship-trained Orthopaedic Spine Surgeon. He has a well-known reputation for excellent outcomes and cutting-edge procedures, and has extensive experience in the field of minimally invasive spine surgery. He frequently teaches techniques to neurosurgeons and spinal surgeons from around the world, and has recently developed new minimally invasive spinal technology that allows for more rapid recovery and minimizes postoperative pain typically associated with spinal surgery.

Dr. Deol has expertise in the diagnosis and management of complex degenerative disorders of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine. He also specializes in spinal trauma, spinal deformity surgery, and spinal tumors. Dr. Deol completed his undergraduate education at North Carolina State University and subsequently attended medical school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

After completing his Orthopedic Surgery residency at Penn State College of Medicine, he was accepted at the prestigious Rush University Medical Center spinal surgery fellowship. At Rush, he trained under the finest spinal surgeons in the world with a focus on complex reconstructive surgery and minimally invasive procedures. He had the good fortune of learning from Dr. Frank Phillips, one of the pioneers in minimally invasive spine surgery.

In 2024, Dr. Deol got listed by Newsweek as one of the 150 best spine surgeons in the U.S.

Texas Back Institute, Plano, Texas, United States of America

Dr. Richard Guyer, MD, is the Co-founder of the Texas Back Institute and Director of their Spine Fellowship Program. Dr. Guyer is also co-director for the Center for Disc Replacement at Texas Back Institute. Dr. Guyer was instrumental in bringing artificial disc replacement surgery to the United States after its creation and use in Europe. Dr. Guyer earned his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. He completed his internship at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas, TX and continued with his residency program in Orthopedic Surgery at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Guyer then completed two spine fellowships in Ohio and California.
Dr. Guyer holds many honors including founder of the Texas Back Institute Research Foundation and Chairman of the Board for the program. Dr. Guyer has received the Best Doctor Award from D Magazine for multiple years, is past president of the North American Spine Society and winner of the Volvo Award for Low Back Pain Research.