GlaxoSmithKline announced that it has chosen its head of consumer healthcare, Emma Walmsley, as its new chief executive.
Last March, in the publication of its 2015 Annual Report to shareholders, GSK announced that CEO Sir Andrew Witty will retire on March 31, 2017.
Walmsley will be the first woman to head a top global pharmaceutical company. She joined GSK in 2010 from L’Oreal. Philip Hampton, GSK Chairman, said, " 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." In a recent interview, Walmsley describes herself as "extremely competitive" with a "bias for action."
Watch an interview with Emma Walmsley here