GSK announces Wendy Becker to join the Board as Non-Executive Director

Issued: London UK

GSK plc (LSE/NYSE: GSK) has today announced that Wendy Becker will join the Board of the Company as a Non-Executive Director with effect from 1 October 2023.

On joining the Board, Wendy will become a member of the Company’s Remuneration Committee. She will succeed Urs Rohner as Chair of the Remuneration Committee after the Company’s 2024 Annual General Meeting when Urs steps down on completion of his nine years’ service to the Board.

Wendy is currently Chair of Logitech International S.A., and a Board member and Chair of the Compensation Committee of Sony Group Corporation.  She has strong executive management experience including senior roles at McKinsey & Company, TalkTalk, and Vodafone and as CEO at Jack Wills.  Within the life sciences sector, Wendy is a Board member and Chair of the Remuneration Committee of Oxford Nanopore Technologies plc. She is a member of the governing bodies of the University of Oxford and related subsidiaries.

Commenting on Wendy’s appointment, Sir Jonathan Symonds, Chair of GSK said: “I am delighted to welcome Wendy to GSK. Wendy is a highly experienced non-executive director, and has held significant leadership positions in a wide range of global businesses, including several in the technology and life sciences sectors. I’m sure she will make a significant contribution to the Board and we look forward to her joining in October.”

Notes:

1. The appointment of Wendy Becker 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 Ms Becker had the experience and time available to carry out the role.
2. The Board has determined that Wendy Becker is an independent Non-Executive Director in accordance with the UK Corporate Governance Code.
3. Ms Becker will receive the standard basic fee for a Non-Executive Director of £113,800 per annum (including travel allowance). She will receive fees of £40,000 per annum when she succeeds Mr Rohner as Chair of the Remuneration Committee. Ms Becker 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. Ms Becker will also be become a member of the Audit & Risk Committee on her appointment.
5. Ms Becker 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.
6. There are no further disclosures to be made in respect of Ms Becker’s appointment under Listing Rule 9.6.13R.
7. As of 1 October 2023 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
   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 Q2 Results for 2023 and any impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.