Indianapolis, In., USA - May 10, 2013, Indianapolis, In., USA - Eli Lilly and Company, a pharmaceutical company, announced that its chairman, president, and CEO John C. Lechleiter will take a medical leave.
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Mr. Lechleiter has served as president and chief executive officer of Eli Lilly and Company since April 1, 2008. He became chairman of the board of directors on January 1, 2009.
Mr. Lechleiter joined Lilly in 1979 as a senior organic chemist in process research and development and became head of that department in 1982. In 1984, he began serving as director of pharmaceutical product development for the Lilly Research Centre Limited in Windlesham, England.
Mr. Lechleiter returned to the United States in 1986 as manager of research and development projects for Europe. In 1988, he became director of development projects management, and he assumed additional responsibility for pharmaceutical regulatory affairs the following year.
In 1991, Mr. Lechleiter was named executive director of pharmaceutical product development, and he became vice president in 1993. He was appointed vice president of regulatory affairs in 1994, was named vice president for development and regulatory affairs in 1996, and became senior vice president of pharmaceutical products in 1998.
In 2001, Mr. Lechleiter was appointed executive vice president for pharmaceutical products and corporate development. In 2004, he became Lilly’s executive vice president for pharmaceutical operations. And in 2005, he was named president and chief operating officer and joined the board of directors.
Mr. Lechleiter received a bachelor of science degree in chemistry from Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio. He subsequently studied organic chemistry as a National Science Foundation Fellow at Harvard University, where he received his master’s and doctorate degrees. He has received honorary doctorates from Marian University (Indianapolis, Indiana), the University of Indianapolis, and the National University of Ireland.
Mr. Lechleiter is a member of the American Chemical Society and Business Roundtable. He serves on the board of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), as president of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations (IFPMA), and on the boards of United Way Worldwide, Xavier University (Cincinnati, Ohio), the Life Sciences Foundation, and the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership. He also serves on the board of Nike, Inc.
The company also announced that Derica W. Rice will assume the additional role of acting chief executive officer during Mr. Lechleiter's leave.
Mr. Rice has more than 22 years of service with Eli Lilly and Company. He was promoted to executive vice president, global services and chief financial officer in 2010. He also is a member of the company’s executive committee. Prior to becoming Lilly’s CFO in 2006, Rice had been the vice president and controller since July 2003.
Mr. Rice joined the company in 1990 as an international treasury associate. He held various assignments as a sales representative, manager of global financial planning and analysis for the medical devices division, and global planning manager for pharmaceuticals.
In 1995, Mr. Rice became finance director and chief financial officer for Lilly Canada. In 1997, he was promoted to executive director and chief financial officer for European operations based in London. In 2000, he was the general manager of Lilly United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland.
Mr. Rice serves as a member of the Board of Directors for Target Corporation, Clarian Health North and The Center for Leadership Development. He also serves as a member of the Indiana University Board of Trustees and the Board of Governors of the Indianapolis Museum of Art.
Mr. Rice received a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Kettering University (formerly the GMI Engineering & Management Institute) and a master's degree in business administration from Indiana University.
The company also announced that Ellen R. Marram, currently the board's lead independent director, will serve as acting chairperson of the board of directors.
Ms. Marram is the president of The Barnegat Group LLC, a firm that provides business advisory services. She was a managing director at North Castle Partners, LLC from 2000 to 2005 and an advisor to the firm from 2006 to 2010. She has been a member of the board of directors of Eli Lilly and Company since 2002. She was elected lead independent director effective April 2012.
Ms. Marram also was president and chief executive officer of Tropicana and the Tropicana Beverage Group, president and chief executive officer of the Nabisco Biscuit Company, and president of Nabisco’s grocery division. She also held a series of marketing positions at Nabisco/Standard Brands, Johnson & Johnson, and Lever Brothers.
Ms. Marram is a member of the board of directors of Ford Motor Company and The New York Times Company, as well as several private companies. She also serves on the boards of Wellesley College, Institute for the Future, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Lincoln Center Theater, and Families and Work Institute. She is a past member of the board of associates of Harvard Business School and a past trustee of the Conference Board. ■