GlaxoSmithKline plc (GSK) has announced that Jonathan Symonds will succeed Sir Philip Hampton as Non-Executive Chairman of the GSK Board with effect from 1st September 2019.

Jonathan is currently deputy group chairman of HSBC Holdings plc and has been an independent non-executive director of HSBC since April 2014. He is a former chief financial officer of Novartis AG and AstraZeneca plc, and has been a non-executive director of Diageo plc and QinetiQ plc. He is currently non-executive chairman of Proteus Digital Health Inc, a non-executive director of Rubius Therapeutics Inc and chairman of Genomics England Limited.

The appointment was approved by the board and follows a thorough succession process undertaken by the Nominations Committee, led by Vindi Banga, the company’s senior independent director (SID), in which all the non-executive directors participated. 

Vindi Banga said: “Jon has exceptional experience in life sciences, and in the financial management and governance of major, global companies. Throughout his career he has demonstrated a passion for science, and is known for his integrity and professionalism. We are delighted that Jon will lead the board through this next phase for GSK, and we look forward to him joining in September.”

Jonathan Symonds said: “I am delighted to be joining GSK, at what is a really important time for the company as it seeks to create value from its new R&D approach, and to create two, new world-leading companies, one focussed on pharmaceuticals and vaccines, the other on consumer healthcare.”