Lilly strengthens team with in-house promotions

Eli Lilly and Company has strengthened its senior leadership team by promoting several of its employees into executive roles.

Josh Smiley, who has held various positions since starting in June 2000, has been promoted to senior vice president and chief financial officer, and will also become a member of the executive committee as of 1 January 2018.

He takes up the position following his predecessor’s - Derica Rice - announcement of retirement at the end of the year.

Dan Skovronsky has also been promoted to a senior vice president role, taking the helm of its science and technology business in addition to becoming president of Lilly Research Labs.

Skovronsky will also become a member of the executive committee as of 1 June 2018.

Additionally, Myles O’Neil has been promoted to senior vice president and president of manufacturing operations and will become a member of the executive committee.

Furthermore, Aarti Shah, Lilly’s current senior vice president and chief information officer, has been named an executive officer and will join the pharma group's executive committee, directly reporting to chief executive officer David Ricks.

Ricks said: “Joining our executive team are individuals who have the experience, expertise and leadership skills to build on our momentum of innovation driven volume growth.

“Importantly, this team will help us maintain focus as we work to bring forward new medicines in diabetes, cancer, immunology, neurodegeneration and pain.”

In addition to the appointments, Maria Crowe, president of manufacturing operations will retire in December 2017 after 35 years of service.

Lilly’s current executive vice president, Jan Lundberg, is also set to retire at the end of May 2018 following eight years with Lilly.