Our History & Founder

From Vision to Reality

David Kelly founded KPS Life with a vision to transform how functional service providers support the pharmaceutical industry. Drawing on more than two decades of executive leadership in clinical development, he built the company on a model designed to be flexible, client-focused, and globally scalable.

In 2010, he transitioned his first company, Kelly Clinical Consultants, into what is now KPS Life, evolving it from a US-based consultancy into a global organization operating across six continents. Throughout this growth, David leveraged deep experience building international teams and managing clinical trials across multiple therapeutic areas.

His career includes senior leadership roles at Novartis, Wyeth, Amylin, and GlaxoSmithKline, along with early experience at Covance, providing a unique, first-hand understanding of both sponsor and CRO environments, insight that helped shape KPS Life’s differentiated model.

A Vision Takes Shape

Today, KPS Life is a global industry leader, operating on six continents and supporting clinical trials in virtually every country, in partnership with some of the most respected sponsor brands in the pharmaceutical industry. That global presence is the result of a vision shaped by experience, and a deliberate decision to challenge the status quo.

David now serves as Chairman of the KPS Life Board of Directors. His founding vision continues to guide the company’s approach to partnership, ensuring KPS Life delivers measurable value while maintaining the quality and agility that have defined its success.