David A. Ricks

David A. Ricks (born 1967 ) is an American businessman. He is currently the chair and chief executive officer of pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly and Company, assuming both roles in 2017. He is also a member of the board of directors of Adobe

Early life and education Ricks was born in 1967 and graduated from Purdue University in 1990 with a Bachelor in Science, and earned a Master of Business Administration in 1996 from the Kelley School of Business, Indiana University.

Career As CEO and chair of Eli Lilly and Company, Ricks had a salary package of $29.2 million for the year of 2024.

After Donald Trump announced planned tariffs on pharmaceutical companies, Ricks stated that he was "not so sure" that tariffs were needed and instead supported permanent lower tax rates in the United States, including 15% for business production, and an extension of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, a law that Trump signed during his first term.