Lilly taps new communications VP

Eli Lilly has named Jeffrey A Winton as its new vice president of communications. This will include responsibility for corporate and product communications, employee communications, issues management, and digital and social communications.

Winton will assume his new role at Lilly on October 11. He will serve as a member of the company's Global Corporate Affairs Leadership Team and will report to Bart Peterson, the former mayor of Indianapolis who became Lilly's senior vice president, corporate affairs and communications, in June of last year.

Winton most recently served as managing partner of West Mill Consulting, a strategic communications and PR company that he founded.  Along with its communications services, the consulting firm also offered executive placement, marketing research, and printing and promotions, with a focus on the healthcare, consumer, beauty, travel and financial services sectors.

While at West Mill, Winton served as interim head, communications and public relations for Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals.

Earlier in his career, he held positions including group vice president, global communications at Schering-Plough and vice president, global public relations at Pharmacia.