Lilly Turns From One Company Veteran to Another for New CEO
- Ricks has led medicines unit, held M&A and marketing roles
- Lechleiter started as organic chemist at drugmaker in 1979
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Over the last eight years, Eli Lilly & Co. relied on a three-decade company veteran to steer it through declining sales and a struggling product pipeline. Now it’s turned to another long-time executive for its next chapter.
On Wednesday, the Indianapolis-based drugmaker -- recently returned to favor with investors -- said Chief Executive Officer John Lechleiter will step down after more than 35 years at the drugmaker and hand over the job to David Ricks, another longtime executive.