---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0000950170-24-045313"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: null
cik: "0001850079"
company_name: "Telesis Bio Inc."
filed_at: "2024-04-18T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-03T19:29:51.951246+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.7
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.7
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Telesis Bio appoints Eric Esser as CEO; shifts focus to Gibson SOLA EDS and BioXp mRNA

## Summary
- Eric Esser named President and CEO effective April 16, 2024, replacing founder Todd Nelson who remains on board.
- Esser receives $490k base salary, 100% target bonus, 100k RSUs, and 200k stock options.
- Operating expenses reduced from $14.3M (Q4 2022) to $10.8M (Q4 2023), extending cash runway.
- Commercial focus on Gibson SOLA enzymatic DNA synthesis; secured co-development deal with automation provider.
- BioXp focused on mRNA synthesis; distribution agreement with Avantor expands channel reach.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0000950170-24-045313
- form_type: 8-K
- cik: 0001850079
- company_name: Telesis Bio Inc.
- filed_at: 2024-04-18T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.7
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.7
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 8.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1850079/000095017024045313/0000950170-24-045313-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1850079/000095017024045313/tbio-20240417.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000950170-24-045313
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000950170-24-045313.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000950170-24-045313.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Eric Esser was appointed as President and Chief Executive Officer at Telesis Bio Inc..
  - Action: assumed position
  - Role: President and Chief Executive Officer
  source text: Eric Esser, who had been serving as the Company's President and Chief Operating Officer, assumed the position of President and CEO for the Company, effective as of April 16, 2024
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1850079/000095017024045313/0000950170-24-045313-index.htm
- Executive change
  Todd R. Nelson changed role as Chief Executive Officer at Telesis Bio Inc..
  - Action: ceased serving as CEO
  - Role: Chief Executive Officer
  source text: Todd R. Nelson, Ph.D., Founder, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Company and member of the Company’s Board of Directors (the Board), will cease serving as the Company's CEO, effective as of April 16, 2024, and will remain a member of the Board
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1850079/000095017024045313/0000950170-24-045313-index.htm
- Executive change
  Eric Esser was appointed as Class II Director at Telesis Bio Inc..
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Class II Director
  source text: the Board approved the expansion of the Board from seven to eight members and appointed Mr. Esser to serve as a Class II director, effective immediately
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1850079/000095017024045313/0000950170-24-045313-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.