John C. Lechleiter

John C. Lechleiter, Ph.D., has served as president and chief executive officer of Eli Lilly and Company since April 2008. He was named chairman of the board of directors in December 2008. In 2001, Lechleiter was appointed executive vice president for pharmaceutical products and corporate development. In 2004, he became Lilly’s executive vice president for pharmaceutical operations. And, in 2005, he was named president and chief operating officer and joined the board of directors.

Lechleiter received a bachelor of science degree in chemistry from Xavier University (Cincinnati, Ohio) in 1975. He subsequently studied organic chemistry as a National Science Foundation Fellow at Harvard University, where he received his master’s and doctorate degrees. In 2006, Lechleiter received an honorary doctorate of business administration from Marian University (Indianapolis, Indiana).

Lechleiter joined Lilly in 1979 as a senior organic chemist in process research and development and became head of that department in 1982. In 1984, he began serving as director of pharmaceutical product development for the Lilly Research Centre Limited in Windlesham, England.

He returned to the United States in 1986 as manager of research and development projects for Europe. In 1988, he became director of development projects management, and in 1989, he assumed additional responsibility for pharmaceutical regulatory affairs. In 1991, he was named executive director of pharmaceutical product development, and in 1993, he became vice president. He was appointed vice president of regulatory affairs in 1994. In 1996, he was named vice president for development and regulatory affairs, and became senior vice president of pharmaceutical products in 1998.

Lechleiter is a member of the American Chemical Society, Business Roundtable, and Business Council. He serves on the boards of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA); United Way Worldwide; Xavier University; the Life Sciences Foundation; Central Indiana Corporate Partnership; and the 2012 Indianapolis Super Bowl Host Committee. He also serves on the board of Nike, Inc.

Lechleiter and his wife, Sarah, live in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are the parents of three children, Daniel, Andrew and Elizabeth.