GSK shuffles execs in operations overhaul

Thu, 01 May 2008 06:59:58 -0400

If anyone doubted Andrew Witty's (photo) professed faith in emerging markets, those doubts can be put to rest. The incoming GlaxoSmithKline CEO lured Eli Lilly's Abbas Hussein to spearhead a new unit charged with building business in China, Russia, Brazil, India and the Middle East.

Until now, GSK had lumped all countries outside the U.S., Europe, and Japan into one big "International" basket. The new structure is designed to focus more attention on once-neglected markets, Witty said, where pharma growth rates could someday triple those in Western nations. "A key element of this new team's remit will be to proactively seek new business opportunities to expand our global reach and drive sales growth," he said.

Meanwhile, Witty has combined U.S., Canadian, and Puerto Rican ops into one North American division, to be headed by U.S. unit president Chris Viehbacher (photo). GSK's Japan honcho Marc Dunoyer will take command of a new Asia Pacific group. And former northern European ops chief David Redfern will take a new job that's trendy among Big Pharma firms these days: chief strategy officer.

- here's GSK's release
- read the brief in the Philadelphia Inquirer
- check out the Wall Street Journal's coverage
- see the story in the Financial Times