Dr. John Lechleiter joined the Indiana Biosciences Research Institute's (IBRI) Board on Directors in April 2018 after retiring as CEO of Eli Lilly and Company in 2016 and finishing his role as chairman of Lilly's Board of Directors in May 2017. It was his call to action in a 2012 speech at the BioCrossroads Indiana Life Sciences Summit, that lead to the establishment of the IBRI.
Lechleiter earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Xavier University and master’s and doctoral degrees in organic chemistry from Harvard University. He has received honorary doctorates from Marian University, the University of Indianapolis, the National University of Ireland, Indiana University, Franklin College, Butler University and Purdue University.
Lechleiter is a member of the American Chemical Society. He serves as vice chair of the board of the Science History Institute and is an emeritus member of the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership board. Lechleiter also serves on the boards of Ford Motor Company, Indiana Economic Development Corporation, Nike, Inc., and United Way Worldwide.