Saudi Arabia,  April 15, 2021 – Eli Lilly Saudi Arabia, a leading pharmaceutical company, has announced the appointment of Dr. Mustafa Al Jawadi and Dr. Ahmed J. Al Buraidi to its Board of Directors in Saudi Arabia as of March 2021. 

Dr. Ahmed J. Al Buraidi is a seasoned professional executive with over 24 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry managing all aspects of corporate and government affairs in Saudi Arabia. Holding a Bachelor of Pharmacy from King Saudi University, Al Buraidi joined Lilly in 1997 as Regulatory Associate, before being promoted through the ranks to Director – Scientific Office and Governmental Affairs. 

Joining Lilly in 2018, Dr. Mustafa Al Jawadi is a veteran of the pharmaceutical industry with almost two decades of professional experience working across numerous roles from Head of Pharmacy at KFSH to Director of Government Affairs, Regulatory, and Communication. Al Jawadi holds a Bachelor of Pharmacy Science from King Saud University, Saudi Arabia, and a Doctor of Pharmacy from Campbell University, North Carolina, US. 

Commenting on the appointment, Dr. Ahmed J. Al Buraidi said: 'I am honoured to join the Board of Directors at Lilly in Saudi Arabia, especially at a time when a whole new healthcare model is emerging in the country. I joined Lilly as the first Saudi national in 1997 and have worked alongside remarkable people throughout my journey at this innovative company. Careers in Lilly are built on loyalty and longevity; I believe today's announcement is a testament to that noble truth. It is an honor to witness Lilly’s culture evolving, composing a workforce of valued, respected, and supported employees with varying characteristics including, but not limited to, nationality, religion, gender, ethnicity, education, socioeconomic backgrounds, and geographic locations. Today, Lilly is a place filled with highly talented Saudi men and women – leading in this pivotal moment in our healthcare journey.”

Dr Mustafa Al Jawadi commented: 'I am thrilled to join Lilly's Board of Directors in Saudi, and I am proud of the ongoing progress being made in the Kingdom. Looking ahead, under the Saudi Vision 2030, Lilly is adopting and leveraging innovative new technologies in supporting a high-quality healthcare system in the Kingdom. As a team, we are dedicated to our mission to continue developing our programs in the country. I am proud to say Lilly is committed to a future in Saudi, with Saudi, for Saudi, where we see vast potential, opportunities and benefits for the Kingdom, leading to better outcomes for patients.' 

Lilly is a global healthcare leader who unites caring with discovery to create medicines that make life better for people around the world. Founded more than a century ago, Lilly remains true to that mission, developing high-quality medicines that meet real-world needs and improve lives globally, including in the Kingdom.

In 2019, Lilly Saudi Arabia became one of the first international pharmaceutical companies to establish a legal entity in the country. Lilly has always pushed the boundaries of science to make conditions that are incurable today treatable tomorrow. Its portfolio of life-changing medicines within the Kingdom spans across Diabetes, Immunology, Pain, Men's Health, Oncology, and Osteoporosis. 

Lilly Saudi Arabia's leadership team consists of 41% females, a progress in line with the company's commitment to a diverse and inclusive environment. In Saudi Arabia, Lilly's workforce consists of 75% millennials, and is made up predominately by Saudi nationals while rapidly reaching gender parity. Globally, Lilly was named third in Diversity Inc's 2020 list of Top 50 Companies for Diversity.