Jill McConnell, Chief Financial Officer
Professional Overview
Jill McConnell is an accomplished finance executive with over 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries. As the Chief Financial Officer at Fortrea, she is responsible for overseeing all financial operations, driving strategic decision-making, and ensuring the company's long-term financial stability and growth.
Experience Summary
Current Role
Jill has been the Chief Financial Officer at Fortrea since May 2023. In this role, she is responsible for leading the company's financial strategy, optimizing resource allocation, and driving operational efficiency. Jill's expertise in financial planning, risk management, and business partnering has been instrumental in supporting Fortrea's ambitious growth initiatives and expanding its market presence.
Career Progression
Prior to joining Fortrea, Jill served as the Chief Financial Officer at Labcorp Drug Development from 2018 to 2023, where she played a pivotal role in driving the company's financial transformation and enhancing its profitability. Before that, she held senior finance positions at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), including SVP & CFO of ViiV Healthcare and VP & Head of Finance for the U.S. Pharmaceuticals division. Jill's strong background in global finance, accounting, and business intelligence has enabled her to make significant contributions to the organizations she has served.
Academic Background
Jill holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and has completed executive leadership programs at leading business schools, further strengthening her strategic and operational expertise.
Areas of Expertise
- Financial planning and analysis
- Capital allocation and investment strategies
- Financial risk management and reporting
- Business process optimization and automation
- Cross-functional collaboration and strategic partnering
- Mergers, acquisitions, and integration management
Professional Impact
Throughout her career, Jill has demonstrated a track record of driving financial performance and operational excellence. At Labcorp Drug Development, she led the successful integration of a major acquisition, resulting in over $50 million in annual cost synergies. At GSK, Jill played a pivotal role in the launch of ViiV Healthcare, a joint venture between GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer, and Shionogi, which has since become a leading provider of HIV treatments.
Conclusion
With her extensive finance expertise, strategic vision, and proven leadership capabilities, Jill McConnell is well-positioned to guide Fortrea through its next phase of growth and expansion. Her deep understanding of the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries, coupled with her ability to drive operational excellence, make her a valuable asset to the Fortrea team.
