GSK exec to head rival drugmaker

Where, oh where could Chris Viehbacher (photo [1]) be going? Place your bets now, folks, because the Financial Times reports that Viehbacher is leaving GlaxoSmithKline [2], where he heads up North American operations, to take the reins of another pharmaceutical group.

Complicating factor: According to GSK's 2007 proxy, Viehbacher has a 12-month noncompete clause in his contract with the company. But in negotiating his exit, Glaxo has been focusing on preventing a follow-the-leader exodus, the FT reports. The company may let Viehbacher go to a competitor, but it doesn't want him to recruit anybody to join his new team.

As you know, Viehbacher was one of three execs in a horse race [3] to take the CEO slot when Jean-Pierre Garnier retired. Andrew Witty (photo [4]), of course, won that race and took over this spring. David Stout (photo [5]), the other candidate, left the company [6] to go into semi-retirement, but Viehbacher stuck around with a seat on the board and a $5 million retention package. Now he's quit, too, leaving Witty with a depleted slate of experienced GSK executives.

- read the Financial Times article [7]

Related Articles:
GSK loses North American chief [2]
GSK shuffles execs in operations overhaul [8]
GSK runners-up get $4M, board seat [9]
GSK CEO also-rans may get on board [10]
At GSK, a public race for the top spot [3]

Update:
GSK's Viehbacher picked as Sanofi CEO [11]