GSK appoints Hans Wijers to its Board as a Non-Executive Director

GlaxoSmithKline plc (LSE: GSK) today announced the appointment of Hans Wijers to its Board as a Non-Executive Director, effective 1st April 2013.

Issued: Thursday 24 January 2013, London UK – LSE Announcement

GlaxoSmithKline plc (LSE: GSK) today announced the appointment of Hans Wijers to its Board as a Non-Executive Director, effective 1st April 2013. The appointment is subject to shareholder approval at the Company’s 2013 Annual General Meeting.

Mr Wijers is currently a Non-Executive Director and Chairman designate of Heineken N.V., one of the world’s largest brewers. He is also currently Deputy Chairman and Non Executive Director of Royal Dutch Shell.

Previously, Mr Wijers was Chief Executive Officer and Chairman at AkzoNobel, a world-leading paints and coating company and a major producer of speciality chemicals, a position he held for 10 years. Prior to joining Akzo Nobel, Mr Wijers held positions as Minister for Economic Affairs for the Government of the Netherlands as well as in the private sector with the Boston Consulting Group.

Commenting on the appointment, Sir Christopher Gent, Chairman of GSK, said:

“I am delighted to welcome Hans to the Board. His broad business experience, including as chief executive of AkzoNobel, together with his economic and political knowledge will enable him to make a significant contribution to the future success of GSK.”

Victoria Whyte
Company Secretary

Notes

1. As Non-Executive Director of GSK, Mr Wijers will receive standard annual fees of £85,000 per annum.  As for all GSK Non-Executive Directors, in order to enhance the link between directors and shareholders, at least 25% of his fees will be paid in the form of Ordinary Shares and allocated to a share account, and he will be able to invest part or all of the balance of his fees into the same share account.

2. The Board has determined that Mr Wijers will be an independent Non-Executive Director, in accordance with the UK Corporate Governance Code.

3. With effect from the close of the Company’s Annual General Meeting in May 2013 the composition of the Board of GlaxoSmithKline plc will be as follows:

Sir Christopher Gent

Non-Executive Chairman

Sir Andrew Witty

Chief Executive Officer

Simon Dingemans

Chief Financial Officer

Dr Moncef Slaoui

Chairman, Global R&D and Vaccines

Professor Sir Roy Anderson

Independent Non-Executive Director

Dr Stephanie Burns

Independent Non-Executive Director

Stacey Cartwright

Independent Non-Executive Director

Lynn Elsenhans

Independent Non-Executive Director

Judy Lewent

Independent Non-Executive Director

Sir Deryck Maughan

Senior Independent Non-Executive Director

Dr Daniel Podolsky

Independent Non-Executive Director

Tom de Swaan

Independent Non-Executive Director

Jing Ulrich

Independent Non-Executive Director

Sir Robert Wilson

Independent Non-Executive Director

Hans Wijers

Independent Non-Executive Director

 

GlaxoSmithKline – one of the world’s leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies – is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer.  For further information please visit www.gsk.com

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Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking statements
Under the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, 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. Factors that may affect GSK' s operations are described under 'Risk factors' in the 'Financial review & risk' section in the company's Annual Report 2011 included as exhibit 15.2 to the company's Annual Report on Form 20-F for 2011.