29th Sep 2025 09:09
(Alliance News) - GSK PLC Chief Executive Emma Walmsley will step down from the start of next year, the pharmaceutical firm announced Monday, with chief commercial officer Luke Miels named as its next boss.
GSK shares rose 3.5% to 1,537.50 pence each in London on Monday morning. The wider FTSE 100 traded 0.6% higher. GSK was the best performer on the blue-chip index in early trade.
Walmsley, who has been CEO since April 2017, believes it is the "right moment for new leadership". Miels joined GSK in 2017 and is currently chief commercial officer. He also has experience in "senior levels in the US, Europe and Asia" at AstraZeneca PLC, Roche Holding AG and Sanofi-Aventis, now known as Sanofi SA.
Walmsley leaves the CEO position at the end of the year but will remain with GSK until her notice period ends at the end of September 2026. Miels becomes CEO and joins the board at the start of January.
"He has been instrumental in building GSK's specialty medicines portfolio, notably in oncology and respiratory. Luke is a highly respected, experienced global biopharma leader," GSK said.
"Since her appointment as CEO, Emma has delivered a comprehensive step-change in GSK's operating performance, portfolio and pipeline, prioritising the development of specialty medicines and vaccines, and delivering multiple major new products. R&D has been reinvigorated during her tenure, with 15 major pipeline opportunities now set to launch in 2025-31. At the same time, GSK's balance sheet has been strengthened, and following the successful demerger of consumer healthcare, a new industry-leading company, Haleon, has been created."
Haleon PLC, whose portfolio includes Aquafresh toothpaste and Panadol paracetamol, was demerged from GSK in July 2022.
GSK is targeting total annual sales of over GBP40 billion by 2031. Next year "marks the start of a pivotal new phase for GSK to deliver these outlooks", it said.
Walmsley added: "2026 is a pivotal year for GSK to define its path for the decade ahead, and I believe the right moment for new leadership. As CEO, you hope to leave the company you love stronger than you found it and prepare for seamless succession. I'm proud to have done both - and to have created Haleon, a new world-leader in consumer health. Today, GSK is a biopharma innovator, with far stronger momentum and prospects than nine years ago. Most importantly, the inspiring people in our labs, factories, and markets worldwide are delivering innovation that matters to get ahead of disease. I know Luke will lead them brilliantly to even greater impact for patients."
GSK said the appointment is the "outcome of a rigorous process, conducted by the board with external support" in recent months. Both internal and external candidates were considered for the position.
"Luke's appointment reflects effective long-term succession planning by the board and Emma," the company said.
"Desired criteria for the appointment were extensively discussed and approved by the board. These criteria reflected the board's view that priorities for the next CEO must be to deliver shareholder value and value recognition through strong focus on pipeline delivery, exceeding the 2031 outlooks, and preparing for the next wave of R&D through ambitious adoption of technology and championing of exceptional patient outcomes."
By Eric Cunha, Alliance News news editor
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