Early Life
Sir Dennis Barry Gillings was born in London, England, on April 25, 1944. He earned a BSc in mathematics in 1966 and a PhD in mathematics in 1972 from the University of Exeter. He also holds a master's degree equivalent in mathematical statistics from the University of Cambridge. His early academic training laid the foundation for his later success in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries.
Rise to Success
Gillings began providing statistical consulting and data management services to pharmaceutical clients in 1974. He founded Quintiles in 1982, a contract research organization (CRO), with the aim of making clinical trials faster and more efficient. In 1994, he took Quintiles public through an IPO. Under Gillings' leadership, Quintiles grew into the largest global provider of clinical trials and commercial marketing services to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Quintiles later merged with IMS Health in 2016 and rebranded as IQVIA.
Key Business Strategies
Gillings' vision was to revolutionize healthcare by providing data-driven insights. Quintiles expanded rapidly, acquiring smaller companies and entering new markets. He focused on building a network of doctors for clinical trials and standardizing steps in drug development, which contributed to the company's global success.
Philanthropy
Gillings is known for his philanthropy, particularly in supporting medical research, public health, and education. He endowed the Dennis Gillings Professor of Health Management at the University of Cambridge. He donated $50 million to the University of North Carolina in 2007.
