GSK has confirmed that Dame Emma Walmsley will step down as its chief executive office (CEO) at the end of this year, with Luke Miels being announced as CEO designate.
Miels, who joined GSK in 2017, currently serves as the drugmaker’s chief commercial officer. He has overseen the company’s global medicines and vaccines portfolio, with a particular focus on oncology and respiratory. Prior to joining GSK, he held senior roles at AstraZeneca, Roche and Sanofi.
As incoming CEO, Miels will be responsible for delivering the company’s growth strategy, including an ambition to achieve annual sales of more than £40bn by 2031. Following the announcement, GSK shares rose by 3%.
Walmsley will step down from the board on 31 December 2025, but will remain with the company until autumn 2026 to support the transition. Miels will formally assume the role on 1 January 2026.
Since her appointment in 2017, Walmsley has led a significant strategic transformation at GSK, including the de-merger of consumer health business Haleon and a renewed focus on oncology and infectious diseases. She has also overseen the advancement of a pipeline comprising 15 potential launches expected over the next five years, as GSK seeks to offset patent expiries and revenue decline from established products.
“On behalf of the Board, I want to thank Emma and acknowledge her outstanding leadership in delivering a strategic transformation of GSK, including the successful demerger of Haleon. GSK today is necessarily very different to the company she was appointed to nine years ago and has a bright and ambitious future,” said Sir Jonathan Symonds CBE, chair of GSK.
“I am delighted to announce that Luke will be the next CEO of GSK. He is extremely well placed to lead, deliver and surpass the ambitions we have set for GSK, and to generate new growth and value for patients and shareholders,” he added.