INDIANAPOLIS, March 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Eli Lilly and Company today announced changes in responsibilities in its senior leadership team. Rich Pilnik, Lilly’s president of European operations since 2001, has been named group vice president and chief marketing officer for the company. Pilnik will report to John C. Lechleiter, Ph.D., Lilly’s president and chief operating officer, and will join the company’s operations committee. Replacing Pilnik as president of European operations is Abbas Hussain, who is being promoted from his current role of regional vice president in Europe.
In his new role, Pilnik will oversee the company’s global strategy for sales and marketing, and will also assume responsibility for global pricing, health outcomes, marketing and sales training, marketing compliance, and new product planning.
“Rich has done an outstanding job in the five years that he has led Lilly’s operations in Europe,” Lechleiter said. “He and his leadership team have produced strong results during a time of significant challenges and rapid change.” Added Lechleiter, “Rich’s experience in a broad range of sales and marketing leadership roles has given him an in-depth understanding of customer requirements and the dynamic global pharmaceutical environment. I am confident he will make a real difference in his new role.”
Pilnik joined Lilly in 1983 and over the course of his career has achieved strong sales and marketing results in management roles in multiple countries, including Mexico, Brazil, Venezuela and the United Kingdom. He holds a B.A. in economics from Duke University and an MBA from Northwestern University.
Succeeding Pilnik will be Abbas Hussain, who has been with Lilly since 1988. Hussain has held a variety of positions around the world, including multiple leadership positions throughout Europe. Hussain holds a joint degree in medicinal chemistry and pharmacology from Loughborough University in Great Britain. Hussain will report to Lorenzo Tallarigo, M.D., Lilly’s president of international operations.
“Today’s announcement places two accomplished leaders in key roles that are essential to the company’s future success,” said Lechleiter. “Strong leadership will be crucial as Lilly converts to a more efficient business model and strives to meet the increasingly complex demands of patients, providers and payers.”
These changes will be effective May 1, 2006.
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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CONTACT: Phil Belt of Eli Lilly and Company, +1-317-276-2506
