Mont-Saint-Guibert, Belgium–based Nyxoah announced in June that it was searching for a new U.S.-based CEO after Olivier Taelman, its leader for the past seven years, agreed with the board to hand over the reins for the company’s next phase of growth.
The company’s Genio system received FDA approval in mid-2025. Both Genio and Inspire Medical’s Inspire V system use implantable neuromodulation to stimulate the hypoglossal nerve for tongue movement to keep the airway open during sleep — providing an alternative to CPAPs for treating treat obstructive sleep apnea. Unlike Inspire, however, the Genio implant doesn’t use leads, and it doesn’t have a battery. Instead, it’s powered through the skin by a wearable during sleep. Over the summer, Nyxoah raised $95 million through an underwritten public offering to expand U.S. commercial operations.
“Nyxoah is entering a new chapter, with the United States at the center of our growth strategy. We are very pleased to welcome Liam as our new CEO. He is a seasoned U.S. medtech executive with a strong track record of scaling organizations, driving commercial performance and creating shareholder value,” Robert Taub, chair of Nyxoah, said in a news release out today.
Kelly led Teleflex (NYSE: TFX) as CEO for eight years before departing in January amid a full-year guidance reduction for the company and plans to sell the company’s OEM contract manufacturing business, along with its Acute Care unit, for $2.03 billion in total value to private equity firms. (The OEM business is now the independent Ingenyx.) In June, former Medtronic executive Jason Weidman became CEO of the streamlined Teleflex, which now has a portfolio covering vascular and interventional access, surgical, anesthesia, cardiac care, urology, emergency medicine and respiratory care.
Before Teleflex, Kelly spent 10 years in senior management roles at Hill-Rom, which is now part of Baxter.
“I am incredibly excited to join Nyxoah at this pivotal stage,” Kelly said. “Genio is a truly differentiated technology in the treatment of sleep apnea. The technology has tremendous potential to impact patient lives globally. The U.S. launch is still in its early stages, and the momentum we’re seeing in physician adoption gives me great confidence in what lies ahead. Drawing on my experience at Teleflex building and scaling global businesses, I look forward to working with the Nyxoah team to scale the business and bring Genio to many more OSA patients.”
