Leading Lilly
A chat with Eli Lilly CEO Dave Ricks and Purdue President Mitch Daniels
Spring 2018
Purdue University
When Dave Ricks (BSIM ’90) took the helm of Eli Lilly and Co. as chairman and CEO in 2017, he became the third Krannert alumnus to lead a Fortune 150 company, joining Sam Allen (BSIM ’75), chairman and CEO at Deere & Co, and Greg Hayes, president and CEO of United Technologies Corp.
Ricks and Purdue University President Mitch Daniels’ sat down for a fireside chat on Lilly Day at Purdue in fall 2017, giving students the opportunity to learn about Lilly and its 130 years of hiring Purdue graduates and the chance to learn about career opportunities at Lilly.
Lilly employs more than 1,600 Purdue graduates — more than from any other university.
“Dave Ricks is yet another example of a Boilermaker who through talent and hard work reached the top of their profession,” Daniels said. “It’s great of him to come back to campus and share his wisdom with our students who are looking to one day make their own marks in their chosen careers.”
Ricks joined Lilly as a business development associate in 1996 and held various management roles in U.S. marketing and sales, where he served successively as director of pharmaceutical marketing, national sales director and general manager. He was subsequently named president and general manager of Lilly China before becoming president of Lilly USA in 2009. He stepped into the role of chairman and CEO after the retirement of John C. Lechleiter.
To watch a video of the event, visit https://youtu.be/NSFSgVSZju8 or click on the photo above.
