18.03.2016 • NewsDede WillamsPeopleAndrew Witty

GSK’s Witty Names Retirement Date

It’s official. Andrew Witty, CEO of Britain’s largest drugmaker, Glaxo SmithKline (GSK), has announced he will retire in March 2017 after nearly a decade at the helm.

In a statement, the CEO said he believes a year from now “will be the right time for a new leader to take over.”

Even before the announcement, the search for a successor was thought to be well underway. Witty has been under pressure from investors to boost profits or break up the company into smaller units.

According to news agencies, the company’s board of directors recently appointed headhunters Egon Zehnder and Korn Ferry to find a new chief.

Along with the challenges from generic competitors faced by many other large drugmakers, Witty has come under fire from GSK shareholders who have been clamoring for a new blockbuster to replace drugs with expiring patents.

GSK has also been embroiled in a bribery probe and faced a fine of £37.6 million for delaying the market entry of generic competition for the company’s anti-depressant Seroxat.

Virtual Event

Digitalization in the Chemical Industry
CHEManager Spotlight

Digitalization in the Chemical Industry

Save the Date: October 22, 2025
The event will be promoted to a combined audience of over 100,000 professionals across Europe through the CHEManager and CITplus networks.

Free Expert Insights

Dual‑Targeting Breakthroughs
Advancements in Bispecific Antibody Development

Dual‑Targeting Breakthroughs

Unlock the latest breakthroughs in bispecific antibody development! Download Wiley’s free Expert Insights eBook to explore cutting-edge dual-targeting strategies, advanced purification methods, and bioanalytical technologies transforming immunotherapy and cancer treatment.

most read

Photo
28.07.2025 • NewsChemistry

VCI Welcomes US-EU Customs Deal

The German Chemical Industry Association (VCI) welcomes the fact that Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and US President Donald Trump have averted the danger of a trade war for the time being.