GSK: Sir Andrew Witty prepara las maletas...

The chief executive of GlaxoSmithKline, Sir Andrew Witty, is stepping down in March 2017 after nearly a decade at the helm of Britain's biggest pharmaceuticals company.


Todo sobre Andrew Witty en PHARMACOSERÍAS

 The FTSE 100 drugs giant said that the board would now conduct a formal search for a successor and would consider internal and external candidates for the role. 

The announcement confirms recent speculation that Sir Andrew's 32-years of service at Glaxo is coming to an end, following a period of turbulent trading which has led many investors to call for a break-up of the company and new leadership. 

 Philip Hampton, Glaxo's new chairman, said the focus would now be on finding a successor. Likely internal candidates could include Glaxo's global pharmaceuticals head Abbas Hussain, leader of the consumer division, Emma Walmsley and manufacturing head Roger Connor, as well as finance chief Simon Dingemans, a former Goldman Sachs banker. 

Externally, GSK might try to poach a senior figure from a rival drugmaker, such as Novartis' respected pharma head David Epstein. It might even look beyond the drugs sector to an executive with broader experience in consumer products. 

Mr Hampton said: "We will thank Andrew more formally for his tremendous dedication and contribution next year." 

 Sir Andrew said he would be leaving Glaxo in a strong position and that the company was on track to return to core earnings growth - an internal measure of performance - this year. 

"I believe this will be the right time for a new leader to take over. In making this decision it has been important to me that the board has the time to conduct a full and proper process," he said.
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