Dennis Gillings

Early Life

Dennis Barry Gillings was born on April 25, 1944, in London, England. He earned a BSc degree in Mathematics in 1966 and a PhD in Mathematics in 1972 from the University of Exeter. He also earned the equivalent of a master's degree in mathematical statistics from the University of Cambridge.

Rise to Success

Gillings began his career as a professor of biostatistics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1971. In 1982, he founded Quintiles Transnational Corporation, a clinical research organization (CRO). Under his leadership, Quintiles became the world's largest provider of clinical trials and commercial marketing services. He took Quintiles public in 1994. Gillings retired as executive chairman of Quintiles, now IQVIA, in 2015.

Key Business Strategies

Gillings's key business strategy involved recognizing the need for more efficient clinical trials and creating a company to provide that service. He focused on managing and streamlining the drug development process. Quintiles offered comprehensive services, handling all phases of clinical research, data management, and commercialization support.

Philanthropy

Gillings has been involved in philanthropy. In 1998, he endowed the Dennis Gillings Professorship of Health Management at the University of Cambridge. In 2007, he and his first wife, Joan, donated $50 million to UNC Chapel Hill, which led to the renaming of the School of Public Health to the Gillings School of Global Public Health in 2008.