Purdue trustee Dave Ricks named 2025 CEO of the Year

Chief Executive magazine announced April 7 that Dave Ricks, chair and CEO of Eli Lilly and Company, has been named 2025 Chief Executive of the Year.

Ricks is the newest member of the Purdue University Board of Trustees and began his two-year term in January.

Ricks became chair and CEO of Lilly in 2017. Previously, he 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.

Under his leadership, Lilly has delivered record research and development output and innovative medicines, positioning the company for sustained growth and an expanded role in the advancement of human health.

Ricks also 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.