GlaxoSmithKline appoints Andrew Witty CEO designate
Issued: 8 October 2007, London, 7am
The Board of GlaxoSmithKline plc (“GSK”) (LSE & NYSE: GSK) today announced the appointment of Andrew Witty as CEO Designate, GlaxoSmithKline.
Andrew Witty, currently President, Pharmaceuticals Europe for GlaxoSmithKline, will succeed Dr Jean-Pierre Garnier following his retirement as Chief Executive Officer at the end of May 2008.
Sir Christopher Gent, Chairman, GlaxoSmithKline said: “Andrew’s appointment follows a rigorous selection process by the Board of Directors. The fact that we have been able to select a successor to JP from three strong internal candidates is a testament to the quality of management at GSK. The Board is confident that Andrew will build on JP’s considerable achievements which have positioned GSK as a leader of the pharmaceutical industry.”
JP Garnier said: “Andrew has made many significant contributions to GSK and I am very pleased that he is to be our next CEO. I look forward to working with him during our handover and wish him every success.”
GlaxoSmithKline — one of the world’s leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies — is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer.
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Notes to Editors:
Andrew Witty was appointed President, Pharmaceuticals Europe for GlaxoSmithKline in January 2003. He is a member of the Corporate Executive Team. Previously, he held the role of Senior Vice President, Asia Pacific, based in Singapore.
Andrew joined Glaxo UK in 1985. He held various positions in the UK, including Director of Pharmacy and Distribution, International Product Manager and a variety of other sales & marketing positions. He later served as Managing Director, Glaxo South Africa and Area Director for South and East Africa. Immediately prior to his move to Asia Pacific, he was Vice President and General Manager, Marketing for Glaxo Wellcome Inc, the company's US subsidiary, where he had responsibility for strategy development, marketing execution and new product positioning.
While in Singapore Andrew served as Economic Advisor to the Governor of Guangzhou, China from 2000 to 2002. He was also a member of the Singapore Economic Development Board, and sat on the Economic Development Board audit committee and the Singapore Land Authority Board.
Andrew is a member of the INSEAD UK Council, a member of the interim board of OSCHR (the Office for Strategic Coordination of Health Research), sits on the Imperial College Commercialisation Advisory Board and is a member of the London Council for the Advancement of Science and Technology. He is a member of the Pharma Futures Working Group, and of the UK’s newly created Health Innovation Council.
Andrew is 43 years old and is married with 2 children. He enjoys tennis, running and watching rugby and cricket. He has a BA in economics from Nottingham University in the UK.
