6th Feb 2006 14:05
GlaxoSmithKline PLC06 February 2006 Issued - Monday 6 February 2006, London Dr. Moncef Slaoui to Head GlaxoSmithKline Research and Development GlaxoSmithKline plc (GSK) has announced today that Dr. Moncef Slaoui, currentlySenior Vice President, Worldwide Business Development and External Alliances,GSK R&D, will become Chairman, Research & Development, effective 1st June 2006.Reporting to Dr. Jean-Pierre Garnier, Chief Executive Officer of GSK, Dr. Slaouiwill also join the Corporate Executive Team and the company's Board ofDirectors. Dr. Slaoui, 46, will succeed Dr. Tadataka (Tachi) Yamada, who will retire fromthe company on 1st June to become Executive Director of the Global HealthProgram at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The retirement of Dr. Yamada isthe subject of a separate announcement today. Dr. Slaoui will bring to his new role broad experience in scientific research,product development, and executive management. In his current position, he hasserved on the R&D Executive Team and spearheaded recent changes in R&D toenhance drug discovery and accelerate product development. Previously, in GSKBiologicals, he engineered the development of a robust vaccines pipeline,including Rotarix, to prevent infantile gastroenteritis, and Cervarix, toprevent cervical cancer. "Moncef combines scientific acumen, sound business sense, and a ferventcommitment to public health," said Dr. Garnier. "Following a career in academia,he has demonstrated during his 17 years at GSK that he can create a strategicvision and then vigorously pursue it to develop new products that profoundlyenhance healthcare." "Moncef is an outstanding scientist and a charismatic leader. Most importantlyhe and I share a common commitment to the welfare of patients," said Dr. Yamada. Dr. Slaoui said, "GSK has one of the most promising pipelines in the industry.Our challenge, going forward, is to deliver to patients the many medicines wehave in development, whilst continuing to grow the pipeline. Along with mycolleagues in R&D, we are embracing this challenge and we fully expect to beable to deliver medicines of great value for patients and for GSK in the comingyears." Dr. Slaoui earned a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology and Immunology from theUniversite Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium, and completed postdoctoral studies atHarvard Medical School and Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston. He was aprofessor of Immunology at the University of Mons, Belgium. He has authored morethan 100 scientific papers and presentations. A citizen of Morocco and Belgium,he is fluent in English, French, and Arabic. S M Bicknell Company Secretary 6 February 2006 Enquiries: UK Media enquiries: Philip Thomson (020) 8047 5502 David Mawdsley (020) 8047 5502 Chris Hunter-Ward (020) 8047 5502 Alice Hunt (020) 8047 5502 US Media enquiries: Nancy Pekarek (215) 751 7709 Mary Anne Rhyne (919) 483 2839 Patricia Seif (215) 751 7709 European Analyst/Investor enquiries: Duncan Learmouth (020) 8047 5540 Anita Kidgell (020) 8047 5542 Jen Hill (020) 8047 5543 US Analyst/ Investor enquiries: Frank Murdolo (215) 751 7002 Tom Curry (215) 751 5419 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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