Enrique Conterno Promoted to President, Lilly USA, LLC; Deirdre Connelly Resigns

INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY - News) today announced that Enrique Conterno, currently senior vice president of health care professional markets for Lilly in the U.S., has been promoted to president, Lilly USA, LLC. Conterno will succeed Deirdre Connelly, who has led Lilly's U.S. operations since 2005. Connelly has resigned from the company to pursue other opportunities.

Conterno joined Lilly as a sales representative in 1992. From 1993 to 1995, he held roles as a financial analyst, marketing associate, and business development manager. In 1996, Conterno became sales and marketing director for Lilly's Peru affiliate, and in 1998 he assumed the same role for Lilly Brazil. In 2000, Conterno was named executive director of marketing for Lilly's intercontinental region (all international markets except for Europe and Japan). In 2003, Conterno became general manager of Lilly Mexico, and in 2006 he was promoted to vice president of Lilly's neuroscience business unit in the U.S. He then assumed his current role in June 2008.

Born in Lima, Peru, Conterno received a master's of business administration degree from Duke University in 1992. He also holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Case Western Reserve University that he received in 1989.

"Enrique brings more than 16 years of proven results and strong leadership to one of the company's most important positions," said John Lechleiter, Ph.D., Lilly's chairman, president and chief executive officer. "He understands the complexities of the U.S. marketplace, he has stressed the need to accelerate the transformation that is underway at this company, and he is focused on the needs of the patients we serve. I am pleased that Enrique has accepted this challenge and am confident that he will succeed in this key leadership role. "

Conterno will report to Bryce Carmine, executive vice president of global marketing and sales. He will join the company's operations committee, and will remain a member of the senior management council. Conterno will assume his new role immediately.

Deirdre Connelly, former president of Lilly USA, LLC, has resigned from the company effective immediately to pursue other career interests.

Said Lechleiter, "We regret that Deirdre has decided to leave Lilly. Her passion for the patients we serve will be greatly missed. She has delivered strong results in every role she has held at Lilly. She has displayed a remarkable level of energy and integrity, and she has built a team and a culture that have proven to be successful. We wish her all the best in her future endeavors. Enrique Conterno, I am confident, will build further on the foundation Deirdre and her team have established."

Lilly, a leading innovation-driven corporation, is developing a growing portfolio of first-in-class and best-in-class pharmaceutical products by applying the latest research from its own worldwide laboratories and from collaborations with eminent scientific organizations. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind., Lilly provides answers - through medicines and information - for some of the world's most urgent medical needs. Additional information about Lilly is available at www.lilly.com.

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