GSK announces Dr Jeannie Lee to join the Board as Non-Executive Director

GSK plc (LSE/NYSE: GSK) has today announced that Dr Jeannie Lee has been appointed to the Board of the Company as a Non-Executive Director. Jeannie will join the Board on 4 March 2024.

Jeannie is currently the Phillip A. Sharp, PhD, Endowed Chair in Molecular Biology and Acting Chair of the Department of Molecular Biology at the Massachusetts General Hospital. She is also Professor of Genetics (and Pathology) at Harvard Medical School. She is a pioneer in the field of RNA Biology and its application to drug development and therapeutics. In addition to senior leadership positions held at both Harvard Medical School and the Massachusetts General Hospital, Jeannie co-founded Translate Bio and Fulcrum Therapeutics, two biotech companies specialising in RNA and epigenetic therapies.

Jeannie is a Member of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Medicine, a Harrington Rare Disease Scholar of the Harrington Discovery Institute, a recipient of the Lurie Prize from the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health, an awardee of the Centennial Prize from the Genetics Society of America, the 2010 Molecular Biology Prize and the 2020 Cozzarelli Prize from the National Academy of Sciences, U.S.A, and a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. She has also served on the Board of the Genetics Society of America.

Commenting on the appointment, Sir Jonathan Symonds, Chair of GSK said, “I am delighted to welcome Jeannie to GSK. Her deep expertise in scientific and medical innovation, including in the field of RNA biology and epigenetics which are key parts of GSK’s R&D approach, together with her experience in public health, will bring strong additional perspective to the Board.”

Notes:

1. The appointment of Dr Lee was made by the Board on the recommendation of the Nominations & Corporate Governance Committee. The Committee conducted an extensive search and selection process for this appointment, using an external search firm, which is a signatory of the Voluntary Code of Conduct for Executive Search Firms. The external search firm provided a diverse list of candidates who were approached, evaluated and interviewed against an agreed set of criteria aligned to the Board’s target skills matrix. The Board satisfied itself that Dr Lee had the experience and time available to carry out the role.
2. The Board has determined that Dr Lee is an independent Non-Executive Director in accordance with the UK Corporate Governance Code.
3. Dr Lee will receive the standard basic fee for a Non-Executive Director of £118,352 per annum (including travel allowance). She will also receive fees of £30,000 per annum as a scientific and medical expert. Dr Lee will be required to build towards a share ownership requirement of GSK shares in accordance with the Company’s shareholder approved Non-Executive remuneration policy.
4. “Scientific and Medical Expert” - The Board designates Non-Executive Directors whose expertise or backgrounds as renowned medical scientists, researchers, or physicians mean that they can bring scientific or industry expertise to the Board’s deliberations.
5. Dr Lee will become a member of the Science and Corporate Responsibility committees on her appointment.
6. Dr Lee does not have a service contract. She has a letter of appointment which may be viewed by contacting the Company Secretary at the Company’s registered office.
7. There are no further disclosures to be made in respect of Dr Lee’s appointment under Listing Rule 9.6.13R.
8. As of 4 March 2024 the Board of GSK will comprise:
   
   

   Sir Jonathan Symonds	Non-Executive Chair
   Emma Walmsley	Chief Executive Officer
   Julie Brown	Chief Financial Officer
   Charles Bancroft	Senior Independent Non-Executive Director
   Elizabeth McKee Anderson	Independent Non-Executive Director
   Dr Hal Barron	Non-Executive Director
   Dr Anne Beal	Independent Non-Executive Director
   Wendy Becker	Independent Non-Executive Director
   Dr Hal Dietz	Independent Non-Executive Director
   Dr Jesse Goodman	Independent Non-Executive Director
   Dr Jeannie Lee	Independent Non-Executive Director
   Urs Rohner	Independent Non-Executive Director
   Dr Vishal Sikka	Independent Non-Executive Director

About GSK

GSK is a global biopharma company with a purpose to unite science, technology, and talent to get ahead of disease together. Find out more at gsk.com.

Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking statements

GSK cautions investors that any forward-looking statements or projections made by GSK, including those made in this announcement, are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Such factors include, but are not limited to, those described under Item 3.D “Risk factors” in the company's Annual Report on Form 20-F for 2022, and Q4 Results for 2023.