GSK names Luke Miels as CEO designate, effective January 2026

GSK plc (LSE/NYSE:GSK) announced Monday that Luke Miels has been appointed CEO designate and will assume full responsibilities as chief executive officer and join the Board on January 1, 2026. The transition follows the planned departure of current CEO Dame Emma Walmsley, who will step down from the Board on December 31, 2025, and remain with the company until September 30, 2026, to support the transition.

Miels joined GSK in 2017 and currently serves as Chief Commercial Officer, overseeing the company’s global medicines and vaccines portfolio. Prior to GSK, he held senior roles at AstraZeneca, Roche, and Sanofi-Aventis.

According to the company’s statement, the Board conducted a succession process over several months, considering both internal and external candidates. Miels’ appointment is described as the result of long-term succession planning.

The remuneration package for Miels includes a base salary of £1,375,000, set below the outgoing CEO’s level, with potential increases over the next few years. The annual bonus target is 150% of salary, with a maximum of 300%, and long-term incentive awards will be 7.25 times salary in 2026, potentially rising to 8 times salary for 2027, subject to performance. Pension and benefits will be in line with those for the wider UK workforce and other executives based in the same country.

Dame Emma Walmsley will be eligible for salary, pension, and benefits until the end of her employment in September 2026, and will receive a bonus for the 2025 financial year, subject to performance. She will also be treated as a good leaver under GSK’s incentive plans, with certain awards continuing to vest on the normal schedule.

This information is based on a press release statement included in GSK’s SEC filing on Monday.

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