Melissa Stapleton Barnes

Melissa Stapleton Barnes served as Senior VP, Enterprise Risk Management and Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer at Eli Lilly and Co., where she led the firm’s global Ethics and Compliance function, from 213 until her retirement in 221. She joined Lilly in 1994 and held a variety of business and legal roles, including general counsel for Lilly Diabetes and Lilly Oncology and deputy general counsel, responsible for overseeing all global litigation and investigations as well as managing the corporate secretary’s office and specialty legal functions.

She earned a Bachelor of Science degree with highest distinction from Purdue University and a law degree from Harvard Law School. In 216, Purdue University honored Melissa with the College of Liberal Arts Distinguished Alumni Award, and she currently serves on the Dean’s Advisory Council for Purdue’s College of Liberal Arts.

The Ethisphere Institute recognized Melissa as an Attorney Who Matters in 215 and 216. The Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association named her a Rising Star in 212, and the Indianapolis Business Journal honored her as a Woman of Influence in 217. In 218, the Ethics and Compliance Initiative awarded Melissa the Carol R. Marshall Award for innovation in corporate ethics.

She serves on the board of directors for Algonquin Power and Utilities Corporation, headquartered in Toronto, and as immediate past chair of the Ethics and Business Integrity Committee for the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations. Additionally, Melissa is a board member and fellow with the Ethics and Compliance Initiative.

Locally, Melissa volunteers as immediate past chair of the board for The Center for Performing Arts and serves on the board of the Great American Songbook Foundation.