Eli Lilly and Company has announced a leadership transition as Patrik Jonsson, executive vice president and president of Lilly International, plans to retire at the end of 2026 after 36 years with the company.
Effective January 1, 2027, Lilly will combine its U.S. and international businesses into a single organization called Lilly Global Markets. Ilya Yuffa, currently executive vice president and president of Lilly USA and Global Customer Capabilities, will lead the new division as executive vice president and president.
The company said the restructuring aims to speed up decision-making, improve operational efficiency, and expand access to its medicines worldwide.
“For more than three decades, Patrik has dedicated his career to improving lives by bringing our medicines to people around the world,” said David A. Ricks, Lilly chair and CEO. “He has held multiple executive roles in the company spanning drug development and customer operations, including head of immunology, cardiometabolic health and Lilly USA. Today he applies his deep expertise in global launches across Lilly International. Patrik is a patient-focused, engaging team leader who has mentored countless colleagues. On behalf of our Board, leadership team and thousands of employees he has worked alongside, I thank Patrik for his service to our company.”
Jonsson joined Lilly in 1990 as a sales representative in Sweden. During his career, he led the company’s operations in Sweden, Scandinavia, Italy, and Japan. He also held leadership positions across Lilly’s biomedicines, immunology, U.S. operations, and cardiometabolic health businesses before becoming president of Lilly International.
Yuffa joined Lilly in 1996 as a financial analyst and has held leadership roles in finance, business development, sales, and general management. His previous positions include leading Lilly’s Italy Hub, which covered more than 25 countries, and serving as president of Lilly Bio-Medicines and Lilly International.
As part of the new structure, six geographic hubs will report to Yuffa.
Laura Steele, currently group vice president of U.S. Cardiometabolic Health, will become president of Lilly USA. Elias Khalil, currently president and general manager of Lilly’s Italy Hub, will become group vice president and president of Lilly Europe and Canada.
Nabil Daoud will continue as group vice president and president of Lilly InterContinental. Karla Alcazar, Huzur Devletsah, and Winselow Tucker will also continue in their current roles as president and general manager of Lilly Japan, Lilly China, and Lilly India, respectively.
Lilly said the leadership changes are intended to strengthen coordination across markets and support its efforts to bring medicines to more patients globally.
Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, Eli Lilly is a pharmaceutical company focused on developing medicines for conditions including diabetes, obesity, Alzheimer’s disease, immune system disorders, and cancer.
