DANVILLE, CA, February 16, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- John E. Ashley has been included in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Mr. Ashley, a distinguished leader in the medical device industry, currently serves as the chief executive officer of Auctus Surgical, a position he has held since 2023 for this company that he co-founded in 2017. In this capacity, he applies more than three decades of technical and managerial expertise to advance care and treatment outcomes for scoliosis patients. His commitment to innovation is evident in his hands-on approach, as he has seen products he designed used in operating rooms on close friends and family members.

In addition to his role at Auctus Surgical, Mr. Ashley is also a business adviser at Sierra Medical Ltd., beginning in 2025, where he provides strategic guidance to this emerging healthcare venture. He has served as a business adviser to OstoValve since 2021 and to ROM Technologies Inc. since 2019, providing expertise in product development, patent protection, and commercialization.

Mr. Ashley's entrepreneurial spirit is further demonstrated by his co-founding of of DurVena Inc., leading the company through critical phases of growth and innovation as chief executive officer from 2020-2023. Concurrently, from 2015 to 2023, Mr. Ashley was the chief executive officer and co-founder of ReValve Med, where he oversaw the development of novel cardiovascular devices. His experience as an entrepreneur-in-residence at Hunniwell Lake Ventures LLC from 2019 to 2020 enabled him to mentor startups and evaluate investment opportunities.

Between 2017 and 2019, Mr. Ashley served as chief executive officer and co-founder of ResonanceDx, guiding the company through its formative years. As chief technology officer at PuraCath Medical from 2015 to 2017, he led engineering teams in developing advanced peritoneal dialysis solutions.

From 2010 to 2014, Mr. Ashley was executive vice president of operations and research and development at CoAlign Innovations, following his tenure as vice president of research and development from 2008 to 2010. Stryker acquired CoAlign Innovations at a 16X multiple in 2014. At Primaeva Medical Inc., Mr. Ashley served as vice president of research and development from 2007 to 2008, with a focus on aesthetic medical devices. Syneron acquired Primaeva Medical in 2009.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Ashley was the president and chief executive officer of ANPA Medical from 2004 to 2007. In 2003, he co-founded Sapphire Medical, collaborating with a Stanford surgeon to develop a rotator cuff repair anchor that achieved rapid regulatory approval with minimal funding—a rare accomplishment that resulted in a highly successful exit for investors.

From 2002 to 2003, Mr. Ashley was vice president of research and development at Fox Hollow Technologies Inc., where he drove development excellence to achieve Food and Drug Administration approval for the company's first products that generated over $100 million in sales before its acquisition for $710 million. Prior to this role, he spent six years at Oratec Interventions, starting in 1996 as a senior project engineer before advancing to director of research and development. During his tenure, Oratec grew from five employees to approximately 150; under his leadership, the company commercialized multiple products, generating significant revenue before its $320 million acquisition.

Mr. Ashley began his career as a research and development engineer at Abbott Laboratories from 1991 to 1995 after relocating from Massachusetts to the San Francisco Bay Area. He then joined Medtronic as a senior research and development engineer from 1995 to 1996.

Throughout his career, Mr. Ashley has demonstrated expertise across all stages of medical device innovation — from initial concept generation through product development, testing, clinical studies, regulatory approvals, manufacturing, and overall operation management. He is recognized for building high-performing teams in both startup environments and established organizations. A prolific inventor, Mr. Ashley holds more than 120 United States and international patents and several additional pending applications.

Mr. Ashley maintains active professional affiliations across industry, academia and innovation initiatives. He has served as a board member for LIFEAIR since 2022 and as an adviser to UCSF Surgical Innovations since 2016. Between 2022 and 2024, he held board member roles with ROMTherapy and HealthROM. He also has served on the advisory board for the Department of Bioengineering at the University of the Pacific since 2017. Earlier in his career, Mr. Ashley was a member of the security team for the Harvard-Yale Balloon Hack in 1982, and has been a long term member of the North American Spine Society.

Education was instrumental to Mr. Ashley's success. His academic background includes a Master of Science in engineering and a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Mr. Ashley attributes his success to a combination of strong technical expertise and strategic insight developed through mentorships and collaborations with industry leaders. Early startup experiences, particularly managing rapid organizational growth, shaped his leadership and management approach. He is driven by a commitment to improving patient care and outcomes, a focus that has guided the development of product solutions that deliver clinical value for patients while also achieving commercial success and benefiting the clinicians who use them.

Beyond his professional achievements, Mr. Ashley is deeply engaged in civic and community service. He serves as an assistant scout master with the Boy Scouts of America and has earned the rank of Eagle Scout. Previously he coached youth soccer in the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay area. He is also a venture mentor for Northern California MIT alumni, where he supports startup founders.

Outside work, Mr. Ashley enjoys traveling with his family, playing golf, skiing, hand percussion, and collecting rare vintages of wine. He is the number one fan, sometimes manager, and always bag carrier for his wonderful opera singing wife. Looking ahead, he plans to develop Auctus Surgical through product development, clinical trials and regulatory approvals, and to position the company for acquisition by a global medical device firm for worldwide distribution. Following these milestones, he intends to focus on advisory and board roles, supporting new ventures by leveraging insights from a career dedicated to advancing patient care through technological innovation.

About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

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