UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR
15d-16
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the
month of September 2025
Commission
File Number 001-15170
GSK plc
(Translation
of registrant's name into English)
79 New Oxford Street, London, WC1A 1DG
(Address
of principal executive office)
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form
20-F . . . .X. . . . Form 40-F . . . . . . . .
Issued: 29 September 2025, London UK
Luke Miels appointed CEO designate for GSK
●
Luke
to assume full responsibilities as CEO from 1st January
2026
GSK plc (LSE/NYSE: GSK) today announces that Luke Miels is
appointed CEO Designate, GSK. He will assume full responsibilities
as CEO and join the Board on 1st January
2026.
Luke joined GSK in 2017 and is currently Chief Commercial Officer,
with world-wide responsibility for medicines and
vaccines1.
He has been instrumental in building GSK's specialty medicines
portfolio, notably in oncology and respiratory. Luke is a highly
respected, experienced global biopharma leader, having worked at
senior levels in the US, Europe and Asia, at AstraZeneca, Roche and
Sanofi-Aventis, prior to joining GSK. This experience, and
significant contribution to GSK, mean he is exceptionally
well-qualified to lead the company, and to deliver the patient and
shareholder value inherent in the company's future
ambitions.
Luke will succeed current CEO, Dame Emma Walmsley. Since her
appointment as CEO, Emma has delivered a comprehensive step-change
in GSK's operating performance, portfolio and pipeline,
prioritising the development of specialty medicines and vaccines,
and delivering multiple major new products. R&D has been
reinvigorated during her tenure, with 15 major pipeline
opportunities now set to launch in 2025-31. At the same time, GSK's
balance sheet has been strengthened, and following the successful
demerger of consumer healthcare, a new industry-leading company,
Haleon, has been created.
GSK is now performing to a new standard, with clear outlooks for
long-term growth including total sales expectations of more than
£40 billion by 20312 and
2026 marks the start of a pivotal new phase for GSK to deliver
these outlooks.
Sir Jonathan Symonds CBE, Chair of GSK, said: "On
behalf of the Board, I want to thank Emma and acknowledge her
outstanding leadership in delivering a strategic transformation of
GSK, including the successful demerger of Haleon. GSK today is
necessarily very different to the company she was appointed to nine
years ago and has a bright and ambitious future. The company is
performing to a new, more competitive standard, with performance
anchored in a stronger portfolio balanced across specialty
medicines and vaccines.
"I am delighted to announce that Luke will be the next CEO of GSK.
He has outstanding global biopharma development and commercial
experience, together with a deep understanding of the company, its
prospects and its people. He is extremely well placed to lead,
deliver and surpass the ambitions we have set for GSK, and to
generate new growth and value for patients and
shareholders."
Dame Emma Walmsley, CEO of GSK, said: "2026
is a pivotal year for GSK to define its path for the decade ahead,
and I believe the right moment for new leadership. As CEO, you hope
to leave the company you love stronger than you found it and
prepare for seamless succession. I'm proud to have done both - and
to have created Haleon, a new world-leader in consumer
health. Today, GSK is a biopharma innovator, with far
stronger momentum and prospects than nine years ago. Most
importantly, the inspiring people in our labs, factories, and
markets worldwide are delivering innovation that matters to get
ahead of disease. I know Luke will lead them brilliantly to even
greater impact for patients. I look forward to supporting this
transition and to cheering GSK's future success as I begin my own
new adventures."
Luke Miels, CEO Designate of GSK, said: "I
am deeply honoured to be appointed as the next CEO of GSK, and
grateful to all the people who have supported me on this journey,
especially Emma. GSK is a very special company, with outstanding
prospects and enormous capacity to impact people's health and to
change lives. As the next CEO, I am privileged to take on this
responsibility, with humility and ambition."
-ENDS-
Summary of appointment process and arrangements in relation to
Directorate changes
Appointment process and transition
Luke's appointment reflects effective long-term succession planning
by the Board and Emma, and the outcome of a rigorous process,
conducted by the Board with external support, over the last few
months. The process considered both internal and external
candidates.
Desired criteria for the appointment were extensively discussed and
approved by the Board. These criteria reflected the Board's view
that priorities for the next CEO must be to deliver shareholder
value and value recognition through strong focus on pipeline
delivery, exceeding the 2031 outlooks, and preparing for the next
wave of R&D through ambitious adoption of technology and
championing of exceptional patient outcomes.
Remuneration arrangements in relation to Luke Miels
The Remuneration Committee considered the remuneration arrangements
that would be appropriate to enable GSK to recruit and retain a CEO
who meets the criteria for the role within GSK's current
shareholder-approved remuneration policy. The starting salary has
been set at a discount to that of his predecessor with the variable
levels set at the same multiples of salary. Given the overall
objective of aligning the role to the median total target pay level
of the global BioPharma group over time (which GSK was working
towards), this will require meaningful increases over the
subsequent few years.
Luke's remuneration arrangements
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Base
salary
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£1,375,000
- reflecting that Luke is new in role, this is below the current
CEO's level (more so had she qualified for an inflationary increase
in 2026) and results in the package therefore being further below
the median of the agreed global BioPharma group. To achieve the
agreed target of delivering a median package, this will require
meaningful increases over the next few years as he develops into
the role.
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Annual
bonus
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The
on-target bonus would be 150%, with a maximum of 300% as for the
current CEO.
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Award
of Long Term Incentives (LTIs)
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The
2026 grant will be 7.25x salary consistent with the 2025 grant to
the current CEO. It is envisaged that this will increase to 8x
salary for the 2027 grant as permitted under the policy approved at
the 2025 AGM, assuming performance merits.
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Share
Ownership Requirement (SOR)
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7.25x -
in line with GSK's shareholder approved director remuneration
policy approved earlier in 2025. This would increase in the future
in line with any increases to the LTI grant multiple.
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Pension
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Pension
arrangements will be in line with those of the wider UK
workforce.
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Benefits
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Benefits
will be in line with GSK's policy and arrangements for other
executives based in the same country to support them in undertaking
their role.
GSK
will support re-location costs within the bounds of its
remuneration policy.
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Luke's contract of employment will be available for inspection at
GSK's registered office in due course.
Remuneration arrangements in relation to Dame Emma
Walmsley
Emma will step down from the Board on 31st December 2025. She will
remain with the business until her notice period ends on 30
September 2026 and will support an orderly transition throughout
that period. In addition, given the potential impact to GSK's
operating environment arising from geopolitics and new
technologies, the Board has asked Emma to support the company and
the new CEO on these matters.
In summary, Emma will continue to receive her salary, pension and
benefits as usual until the end of her employment on 30 September
2026, and she will be eligible for a bonus for the 2025 financial
year (which she will have worked in full) subject to performance
and deferral in the normal way. She will be treated as a good
leaver under GSK's incentive plans, meaning that her PSP awards
will continue to vest on the normal vesting dates subject to
performance, she will be eligible for an on-target bonus for the
2026 financial year, in each case time pro-rated to the end of her
employment, and she will retain all her deferred bonus
awards. Emma will continue to receive certain benefits in
connection with and following the end of her employment, including
private medical support until 30 September 2029 for her and her
immediate family, tax consultancy services in connection with
ongoing tax returns, reimbursement of legal fees and executive
support services. Certain post-employment benefits will end if Emma
starts a new executive role that offers comparable benefits. Emma
will remain subject to GSK's 7.25x salary share ownership
requirement for 2 years after the end of her employment. Further
details of remuneration arrangements in relation to Emma's
departure from GSK, which are consistent with GSK's directors'
remuneration policy, will be disclosed on GSK's website in
accordance with section 430(2B) of the Companies Act
2006.
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.
Disclosure
GSK confirms there is no information required to be disclosed
pursuant to UK Listing Rule 6.4.8R
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GSK enquiries
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Media:
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Simon
Steel
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+44 (0)
20 8047 5502
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(London)
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Kathleen
Quinn
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+1 202
603 5003
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(Washington
DC)
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Investor
Relations:
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Constantin
Fest
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+44 (0)
7831 826525
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(London)
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James
Dodwell
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+44 (0)
20 8047 2406
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(London)
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Mick
Readey
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+44 (0)
7990 339653
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(London)
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Steph
Mountifield
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+44 (0)
7796 707505
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(London)
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Jeff
McLaughlin
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+1 215
751 7002
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(Philadelphia)
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Frannie
DeFranco
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+1 215
751 3126
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(Philadelphia)
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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 in the "Risk
Factors" section in GSK's Annual Report on Form 20-F for 2024, and
GSK's Q2 Results for 2025.
All expectations, guidance and outlooks regarding future
performance should be read together with the section "Guidance and
outlooks, assumptions and cautionary statements" on pages 59-60 of
GSK's stock exchange announcement of the Group's Q2 2025 Results
and the statements on page 341 of the Group's Annual Report for FY
2024.
This announcement contains inside information. The person
responsible for arranging the release of this announcement on
behalf of GSK is Victoria Whyte, Company Secretary.
Registered in England & Wales:
No. 3888792
Registered Office:
79 New Oxford Street
London
WC1A 1DG
Notes
1.
Excluding ViiV Healthcare
2.
Totals sales in 2031 on a risk adjusted basis expected to be more
than £40 billion
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorised.
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GSK plc
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(Registrant)
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Date: September
29, 2025
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By:/s/ VICTORIA
WHYTE
--------------------------
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Victoria Whyte
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Authorised
Signatory for and on
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behalf
of GSK plc
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