Lilly appoints new chief ethics and compliance officer

Lilly has announced that Melissa Barnes will take up the role of chief ethics and compliance officer and senior vice-president of enterprise risk management at the start of next year.

Ms Barnes is the company's current vice-president and general counsel, with responsibility for litigation, compliance and specialty legal areas, including regulatory and human resources.

The Harvard Law School graduate has been with the organisation since 1994 and has proven her credentials and expertise in this area over a number of years.

She has been appointed as the successor to Anne Nobles, who will be retiring at the end of the year following a career with Lilly spanning more than two decades.

Dr John Lechleiter, chairman, president and chief executive officer at Lilly, said: "Lilly is committed to conducting our business with the highest level of integrity and in full compliance with the laws and regulations that govern our operations."

Earlier this week, the company announced that its drug Cialis has received European regulatory approval for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia.