GSK Names Luke Miels as Next Chief Executive Officer 

Luke Miels, GSK’s chief commercial officer, has been appointed CEO designate and will take over as chief executive on Jan. 1, 2026, succeeding Dame Emma Walmsley. 

Miels, who joined the British drugmaker in 2017, currently oversees global commercial operations for medicines and vaccines. He has played a central role in expanding the company’s specialty medicines portfolio, particularly in oncology and respiratory treatments. Before joining GSK, he held senior roles at AstraZeneca, Roche and Sanofi-Aventis across the U.S., Europe and Asia. 

Walmsley, who became CEO in 2017, has led a broad restructuring of the company, emphasizing specialty medicines and vaccines while overseeing the spinoff of its consumer-health division into Haleon PLC. Under her tenure, GSK has strengthened its balance sheet and advanced its research pipeline, with 15 major programs expected to launch between 2025 and 2031. 

The company has projected annual sales of more than £40 billion by 2031 and said 2026 will mark the beginning of a “pivotal new phase” in its growth strategy. 

Sir Jonathan Symonds, GSK’s chair, said: “I am delighted to announce that Luke will be the next CEO of GSK. He has outstanding global biopharma development and commercial experience, together with a deep understanding of the company, its prospects and its people. He is extremely well placed to lead, deliver and surpass the ambitions we have set for GSK, and to generate new growth and value for patients and shareholders.” 

Miels said: “I am deeply honored to be appointed as the next CEO of GSK, and grateful to all the people who have supported me on this journey, especially Emma. GSK is a very special company, with outstanding prospects and enormous capacity to impact people’s health and to change lives. As the next CEO, I am privileged to take on this responsibility, with humility and ambition.”