Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. has recruited longtime Eli Lilly executive Rhonda Pacheco to serve as president of its U.S. Business Unit, marking a strategic leadership appointment as the Japanese pharmaceutical company prepares for broader executive transitions. Pacheco, who previously served as group vice president of U.S. Cardiometabolic Health at Eli Lilly, will assume her new role on September 29, 2025, and join the Takeda Executive Team.
Leadership Transition Strategy
The appointment positions Pacheco to succeed Julie Kim, who was recently named to replace Christophe Weber as Takeda's president and Chief Executive Officer in June 2026. With Pacheco's arrival, Kim will shift focus to preparing for the CEO transition while serving as interim head of the Global Portfolio Division.
"We are thrilled to welcome Rhonda to Takeda," said Julie Kim and Christophe Weber in a joint statement. "Rhonda embodies our values, and she brings a compelling blend of strategic acumen, operational excellence and people-first leadership that aligns seamlessly with the evolving needs of our U.S. Business Unit and Takeda's broader enterprise vision."
Commercial Experience and Background
Pacheco brings significant pharmaceutical industry experience from her tenure at Eli Lilly, where she oversaw complex portfolios across various leadership roles. Her track record includes managing successful product launches, most notably Lilly's GLP-1 portfolio, while delivering strong commercial performance across her areas of responsibility.
The Massachusetts native holds an MBA from Duke University's Fuqua School of Business and a doctorate of pharmacy from the University of Rhode Island. Her appointment represents a homecoming, as she will be relocating from the Indianapolis area, where Lilly is headquartered, to lead Takeda's Cambridge operations.
Operational Scope and Responsibilities
In her new role, Pacheco will oversee a team of more than 2,000 employees at Takeda's U.S. operations, making her responsible for leading one of Massachusetts' largest life sciences workforces. Her responsibilities will encompass certain therapy areas as well as key functions including commercial sales, medical affairs, and patient services.
The appointment comes as Takeda prepares for the upcoming opening of a 16-story office-and-lab tower in Cambridge's Kendall Square. While Takeda employs approximately 5,800 people across Massachusetts, many work in business groups that report outside the U.S. business unit structure.
"For me, joining Takeda to lead the U.S. Business Unit is where purpose and possibility come together — a chance to reshape how we deliver breakthrough science to patients," said Pacheco. "I'm energized to be working with such a talented team to accelerate innovation, deepen trust, and set a new standard for what patients, partners and communities can expect from Takeda."
