Lilly has promoted Darren Carroll to senior VP of corporate business development.
Carroll most recently held the role of VP of corporate business development since 2010 and has been at Lilly for 18 years. During his career at the company, Carroll has helped lead and create new business models for the firm including e-Lilly, InnoCentive, Lilly Ventures and Lilly Asia Ventures.
Commenting on the work involved in his new role, Carroll said: “Our long term commitment to scientific excellence at Lilly is the foundation for success in identifying, accessing and shaping external innovation.
“It has been recognised by partners that range from start-ups to other top 10 pharmaceutical companies, and it is a critical reason why we are attractive as a partner. We are ‘all in’ on innovation.”
Carroll also played a key role in driving the firm’s Capital Funds Portfolio strategy with multiple venture capital fund managers, which has led to the creation of eleven new companies to date. This includes Artaeus, which Lilly acquired in January 2014.
Derica Rice, executive VP of global services and CFO at Lilly, added: “Darren is the ideal candidate to lead this important and increasingly competitive work. He is a pragmatic, creative individual with an extraordinary bandwidth for managing and understanding complex business opportunities.
“Darren’s high integrity, insights into diverse markets and cultures and unique experiences, both inside and outside of Lilly, are important assets as we seek to be more attractive to potential partners.”