Alex M. Azar II, currently senior vice president of corporate affairs and communications, will assume the leadership role in Lilly's U.S. Business-to-Business organization. Mr. Azar will oversee the company's public payer, managed care and wholesaler operations in the U.S. as well as oversee Lilly's sales and marketing operations in Puerto Rico.
Mr. Azar joined the company in 2007. During his tenure he helped position Lilly as a leading advocate of public policies that support biopharmaceuticals and advocated for healthcare reform that would improve efficiency, choice, and access for patients. Before joining the company, he served as the United States Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) from 2005 to 2007. Agencies under his direction included the FDA, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the National Institutes of Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"Lilly has been focusing for some time on advancing our understanding of and addressing, in more meaningful ways, the needs of our public and private payer customers. Given the current and unprecedented political forces on the U.S. healthcare system, this move will enable us to bring a more exclusive focus on these vital customers," said John C. Lechleiter, Ph.D., chairman, president and chief executive officer. "Alex's strong political and healthcare background and expertise will enable us to further build the strength of the organization at a critical time for both Lilly and the industry. Additionally, this move creates a tremendous opportunity for one of our most qualified and strongest leaders to build front-line business experience at the company's largest affiliate."
Also, Jack Bailey, U.S. senior vice president of account-based markets, will take on responsibilities that include oversight of the U.S. diabetes business unit. He currently has responsibly for Lilly U.S.'s oncology and cardiovascular teams, as well as the Lilly Hospital Group. Mr. Bailey's new role combines key aspects of the business and creates therapeutic alignment across the company's organization, from drug discovery to new product development to commercialization.
Mr. Bailey joined the company in 1991. During his tenure, he held positions in sales and marketing and business development. In 1998, he assumed the role of general manager for Lilly's affiliate in South Africa and also directed regional sales operations across Sub-Saharan Africa. In 2001, he returned to the U.S. to lead Lilly's Business-to-Business organization.
"It was Jack's vision and leadership over the last eight years that drove the successful modernization of Lilly's Business-to-Business operations in the United States," said Dr. Lechleiter. "I am pleased that he will now have the opportunity to apply his knowledge and strong track record of performance more broadly across Lilly USA's therapeutic portfolio."
