Quintiles' Dennis Gillings steps down as CEO

Pharma services company Quintiles has appointed former Accenture executive Tom Pike as its new CEO and he joins on April 30 to take the helm from current CEO Dennis Gillings.

Gillings, who founded Quintiles in 1982, is not departing the company altogether, and will stay on as executive chairman of its board of directors.

Quintiles said the move was part of its long-term succession planning and Gillings praised Pike's “impressive track record of helping customers navigate fast-changing environments”.

“Tom has a disciplined and forthright approach that will enable him to earn the trust of customers and employees alike,” Gillings said.

“I'm confident he will soon make his mark on our company and the industry at large, continuing the Quintiles tradition of entrepreneurial leadership and pioneering growth.”

Pike joins the company after spending two years working with health and technology start-ups, but for the 22 years before that he served at management consultancy Accenture.

There his roles included leading the North America health and products business areas and serving as global chief operating officer for Accenture's Resources operating group.

Pike said: “Healthcare is the most important industry of the next quarter century, and I'm excited because Quintiles is right at the centre of improving the health of millions of people around the world.

“It's extremely motivating to join the company at this point in time. I understand the magnitude and complexity of its customers' challenges. I'm looking forward to bringing my skills and experience to help this talented team build on its successes as it continues its journey as one of the world's great companies.”