Emma Walmsley

What makes Emma Walmsley a Global Shaker?

Emma Walmsley is one of the most influential women in the British pharmaceutical industry. As the current CEO of Pharma Giant GlaxoSmithKline, Walmsley oversees one of Europe’s largest business operations at the helm of a household name in chemicals. The Financial Times reported Walmsley as being highly respected by employees, who admire her “strong and direct” leadership style and “steely” focus.

The Cumbria-born entrepreneur boarded at St, Swithun’s School, Winchester before progressing to the prestigious Oxford University, where she graduated with a degree in Classics and Modern Languages. The GSK chief was originally tipped for immense success at L’Oreal, where she flourished in roles managing and marketing key brands across Europe and Asia, including Garnier and Maybelline.

Emma Walmsley is recognised as the first women in history to run a major pharmaceutical company. Since joining the 300-year-old company, Walmsley has replaced 50 of the company’s senior managers, creating new roles in a bid to prepare the firm for further expansion in the future.

She led a global restructuring program aimed at saving more than $500 million a year by 2021 and will invest those savings in R&D spending and funding a pipeline of new drugs.

One of her biggest moves since becoming CEO came in 2018 when Walmsley led the $13 billion dollar purchase of Novartis‘s 36% stake in GSK Consumer Health.

In July 2018, she announced a $300 million deal with San Francisco genetics startup, 23andMe to develop new medicines.

Last updated: May 21, 2019

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