Elanco exec named to state agriculture office

The president of Elanco Animal Health, a subsidiary of Eli Lilly and Co., will leave to become a special adviser on corporate development to the Indiana State Department of Agriculture, Lilly announced today.

Pat James had led Lilly’s animal health division since 2001 and worked at Lilly since 1978. He will be replaced Jan. 1 by Jeff Simmons, Elanco’s executive director of U.S. operations and global research and development since 2006.

“Under Pat’s leadership, Elanco has grown and expanded, and has become an even more important part of Eli Lilly and Co.,” said Lilly President and Chief Operating Officer John C. Lechleiter, in a written statement. “We look forward to Elanco’s continued success as Jeff assumes his new role.”