Anat Hakim, the general counsel of WellCare Health Plans Inc., was named senior vice president and general counsel of pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly and Co. on Friday.

Hakim leaves WellCare after three years as the company just completed its acquisition by Centene Corp. She will begin her new role as Eli Lilly's top lawyer Feb. 3. She will be based in the Indianapolis headquarters.

"I'm thrilled to lead the law division and to be joining Lilly at such an exciting time for the company," Hakim said in the press release. "Lilly's focus on innovation, its promising pipeline of new medicines, and its desire to make medicines more affordable for patients make it the ideal place for me. I can't wait to get started."

She was not available for an interview Friday.

David Ricks, the company's chairman and CEO, said in a statement he is excited to have Hakim join the team.

"Anat's legal expertise and prior experiences in the pharmaceutical industry, across health care more broadly, and as general counsel at WellCare Health Plans make her the ideal person to lead Lilly's law division," Ricks said.

Hakim will replace Mike Harrington who announced in July that he will be retiring Jan. 31. Harrington joined the company in 1991 as an attorney in product liability litigation.

Ricks said he was thankful for Harrington's service.

"Over the past eight years, Mike has very successfully led our legal organization and was a great partner to me and the Lilly Board of Directors. We are grateful for his leadership and wish him well in this next chapter of his life," Ricks said.

Hakim has also worked in-house at Abbott Laboratories. She has worked as a partner at Foley & Lardner and as an attorney at Latham & Watkins.