Pharmaceutical and healthcare company, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has announced that it is appointing Emma Walmsley as their new Chief Executive.
Walmsley, who is due to replace Sir Andrew Witty, will become the seventh female CEO within the FTSE 100. She joins Moya Greene at Royal Mail; Alison Cooper at Imperial Brands; Alison Brittain at Whitbread; Liv Garfield at Severn Trent; Veronique Laury at Kingfisher; and Carolyn McCall at easyJet.
Walmsley has worked at GSK since 2010, joining as the Head of Consumer Healthcare. Before that, she spent 17 years of her career working at L’Oreal, with a brief stint at Maybelline.
Walmsley is due to join the GSK Board of Directors from 1st January 2017.
Last year, the company had a record number of sales of £24billion. They are responsible for some of the most recognisable consumer brands on the highstreet including Horlicks, Aquafresh, Sensodyne, and Zovirax.
Speaking of her appointment, Walmsley said, “I am delighted and honoured to be appointed GSK’s next chief executive. GSK is a company that leads both in science and in the way it does business.”
“We have momentum in the group. As the demand for medical innovation and trusted healthcare products continues to rise we have the opportunity and the potential to create meaningful benefits for patients, consumers and our shareholders.
Philip Hampton, GSK Chairman said, “I am very pleased to announce Emma’s appointment, after what has been a very thorough and rigorous global selection process carried out by the GSK Board of Directors.”
“Emma is an outstanding leader with highly valuable experience of building and running major global businesses and a strong track record of delivering growth and driving performance in healthcare.”
“Under Andrew’s leadership, GSK has successfully developed into a company with market-leading positions in pharmaceuticals, vaccines and consumer healthcare.”
“These provide excellent platforms for sustainable, long-term growth, and we are confident Emma will successfully build on these strengths.”
