INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) - Eli Lilly and company announced Wednesday that President and CEO John C. Lechleiter will retire at the end of this year.
Lechleiter has been the company's CEO since April 1, 2008, and the chairman of its board of directors since January 1, 2009. He joined Lilly in 1979 as a senior organic chemist in process research and development and has served in various roles since.
He will remain on Lilly's board of directors until May 31, 2017.
David A. Ricks, currently Vice President and president of Lilly Bio-Medicines, will replace Lechleiter as president and CEO. He will join the board of directors Jan. 1, 2017 and will become chairman of the board June 1, 2017.
Ricks has served as president of Lilly Bio-Medicines since Jan. 2012.
The company will address the leadership changes at an 11 a.m. news conference Wednesday.