GSK announces changes to management

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has said it is making some changes to its corporate executive management team, which will take effect this month.

Andrew Witty, chief executive officer designate, will assume this role on a permanent basis from May 22nd.

He has outlined new appointments at the top of the company and announced a new dedicated team for corporate strategy and development:

“Making the changes required to develop our business for the next decade requires a rigorous and disciplined focus on corporate strategy,” he said.

“A key element of this new [corporate strategy and development] team’s remit will be to proactively seek new business opportunities to expand our global reach and drive sales growth.”

There are also plans to create an emerging markets strategy to deal with burgeoning client bases in Brazil, India, Russia, China and the Middle East.

The changes come as the biotech industry faces a “rapidly changing environment”, Mr Witty added.

Earlier this week, the US Food and Drug Administration approved GSK’s Advair Diskus 250/50 therapy for reduction of exacerbations in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.