GSK said Monday it has appointed Chief Commercial Officer Luke Miels as its next chief executive, succeeding Dame Emma Walmsley.
Miels will take over as CEO and join the board on Jan. 1, 2026, the British pharmaceutical giant said.
Walmsley, who has led the company for nine years, will step down from the board at the end of 2025 and remain with the business until September 2026 to support the transition.
During her tenure, Walmsley oversaw a strategic shift focusing on specialty medicines and vaccines and orchestrated the successful demerger of its consumer-health business, Haleon.
"2026 is a pivotal year for GSK to define its path for the decade ahead, and I believe the right moment for new leadership," Walmsley said in a statement.
Miels joined GSK in 2017 and has been responsible for its medicines and vaccines business, playing a key role in building its portfolio in areas like oncology and respiratory treatments.
He previously held senior roles at AstraZeneca, Roche and Sanofi-Aventis.
The appointment comes as GSK pursues long-term growth, with a sales target of more than 40 billion British Pounds by 2031 and a recent commitment to invest $30 billion in the U.S.
According to the company, Miels' starting base salary will be 1.375 million British Pounds.
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