GSK Announces Latest Leadership Appointments and Strategic Restructuring in China

According to the "Pharmaceutical Representative" news, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) China announced the latest personnel appointment. Lu Xuefen will officially join the GSK China management team on December 16, serving as the Head of Human Resources for China.

Since the beginning of 2024, GSK has experienced several changes in its business and personnel.

At the beginning of the year, GSK China underwent a business reorganization, forming three core business units: specialty medicines, vaccines, and respiratory products.

In May, Mike Crichton, Senior Vice President of GSK Greater China and Intercontinental Region (GSK GCI), announced that Cecilia Qi was appointed as Vice President of GSK Greater China and Intercontinental Region and Head of Vaccines Business, while Sherman Yu would take over as Vice President of GSK and General Manager of China. Both will assume their new roles on July 1st.

On June 23, Victor Gu (Gu Hao) officially stepped down as the Head of Human Resources at GSK China.

On August 1, GSK China's Respiratory Business Unit newly established the position of National Sales Director for Nucala (Mepolizumab), which was assumed by Hong Xiao; simultaneously, the Greater Respiratory Marketing Department was formed, with Cao Xueyan serving as the Head of the Respiratory Marketing Department. Both individuals report directly to Yu Jinyi, the head of the Respiratory Business Unit.

On August 30, Ma Zheng officially left the position of Head of Communications and Government Affairs at GSK China. Shortly after, Zhao Lun joined GSK China to take over this role.

On November 14, Fu Qiuyue, former Vice President of Eli Lilly's China Biologics Division, also joined GSK China's Specialty Medicines Division as Vice President and Head of Anti-Infectives, reporting directly to Zhang Ning, head of GSK China's Specialty Medicines business.

In recent years, multinational pharmaceutical companies, including GSK, have frequently experienced personnel changes in the Chinese market, reflecting continuous adjustments to their business strategies in China. Changes in their senior management in China are often accompanied by adjustments in business structure and minor tweaks in strategic direction. For example, Sanofi transferred the sales of multiple products in China to local pharmaceutical company Shanghai Pharmaceuticals Holding; Roche entrusted the sales and distribution of some products in the Chinese market to domestic pharmaceutical distributor Sinopharm Group, streamlining and optimizing its sales team accordingly; Pfizer China's vaccine division was dissolved; and Sandoz China was entirely sold to Ascendis Health. These changes indicate that multinational pharmaceutical companies are reshaping their China strategies, adapting more efficiently to the Chinese market through personnel changes and business restructuring.

Accompanying the wave of executive departures are adjustments in business structures and strategic transformations. In recent years, multiple pharmaceutical companies have undergone business restructuring, including the division of business units, establishment of new departments, and integration of internal resources. These adjustments help reduce costs and improve efficiency, reflecting the strategic layout and resource allocation of multinational pharmaceutical companies across different business areas.

Source: Siqi Club

Author: Li Siqi