Leslie Millington, Pmp, Csm
About Leslie Millington, Pmp, Csm
Leslie Millington is the Senior Director of Business Strategy and Operations at Kite Pharma, where she has worked since 2021. With a background in project management and strategic operations, she has directed significant initiatives to enhance organizational efficiency and strategic planning.
Work at Kite Pharma
Leslie Millington currently serves as the Sr. Director of Business Strategy & Operations (Chief of Staff) at Kite Pharma, a position held since 2021. In this role, she has directed a strategic change management initiative that communicated and implemented a new strategic plan across an organization of over 3,000 employees. Prior to her current role, she worked as Associate Director of Business Strategy & Operations from 2017 to 2019 and as Director of Business Strategy & Operations (Chief of Staff) from 2019 to 2021. During her tenure, she orchestrated strategic special projects that reduced operational costs and improved financial efficiency.
Education and Expertise
Leslie Millington holds a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree from UCLA. Her educational background supports her extensive experience in business strategy and operations within the pharmaceutical industry. She is also certified as a Project Management Professional (PMP) and a Certified ScrumMaster (CSM), indicating her proficiency in project management methodologies and agile practices.
Background
Before joining Kite Pharma, Leslie Millington worked at Baxalta as Senior Manager of the Project Management Office from 2013 to 2016. In this role, she initiated the establishment of a Tech Ops Extended Leadership team with over 60 members to enhance strategic decision-making and risk-resolution processes. She also managed external speaking engagements and media events for senior leadership, ensuring compliance with Legal and Public Affairs. Additionally, she held positions at Shire as Senior Manager of Project Management and Associate Director of the Program Management Office from 2016 to 2017.
Achievements
Leslie Millington has been instrumental in formulating and implementing the inaugural 5-year strategic blueprint for technical operations at Kite Pharma, collaborating closely with senior leadership. Her leadership in directing a strategic change management initiative has significantly impacted the organization by aligning over 3,000 employees with the new strategic plan. Furthermore, her orchestration of strategic special projects has contributed to reducing operational costs and enhancing the company's financial efficiency.