David A. Ricks

David A. Ricks
Indiana Govenor Eric Holcomb appointed David A. Ricks to the Purdue University Board of Trustees to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of board chair Michael Berghoff effective January 2025.

Mr. Ricks is chair and CEO of Eli Lilly and Company. Under his leadership, Lilly has delivered record research and development output and innovative medicines that continue to reach more people, positioning the company for sustained growth and an expanded role in the advancement of human health.

Lilly’s innovation strategy has yielded a pipeline among the most valuable in the industry since Ricks became chair and CEO in 2017. Previously, Ricks held roles that spanned functions, geographies and therapeutic areas after joining the company as a business development associate in 1996. He served as general manager of Lilly Canada, president and general manager of Lilly China, president of Lilly USA and president of Lilly Bio-Medicines.

Supporting the health innovation ecosystem and local communities is also a priority. Ricks serves on the boards of Adobe, Business Roundtable, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations, The Business Council, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Council for Inclusive Innovation, and Central Indiana Corporate Partnership.

Ricks earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Purdue in 1990 and an MBA from Indiana University in 1996. He has been awarded an honorary doctorate in pharmaceutical management from Purdue.