- July 22, 2021
- Posted by: Stratford Team
- Category: Business
GlaxoSmithKline has appointed Brian McNamara to lead its consumer health division after the spin-off next year, choosing an internal candidate over several external applicants for the new company that will have annual sales of more than £10bn.
McNamara joined GSK in 2015 from Novartis and has led the consumer unit since its previous head Emma Walmsley was promoted to chief executive. He has overseen the creation of the joint venture with Pfizer’s consumer unit, which owns brands such as Sensodyne toothpaste and Centrum vitamins, as well as preparations for the split.
Some shareholders have suggested whether Walmsley would be better off heading the consumer side of the business, doubtful whether she has the pharmaceutical experience to revamp the lacklustre pipeline of GSK’s drug and pharma business that she will lead after the separation.
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