James Shannon named GlaxoSmithKline Chief Medical Officer

James Shannon has been named GSK’s Chief Medical Officer (CMO), effective 1 May. James will report to R&D Chairman Moncef Slaoui and be based in London. He will be accountable for medical governance and patient safety for all of GSK: Pharmaceuticals, Consumer Healthcare, Vaccines and the global businesses.

The CMO is the most senior physician in the company with primary responsibility for matters of patient safety, general medical governance, medical ethics and integrity, medical information and investigations involving human subjects relating to any GSK product (pharmaceutical, biological and consumer healthcare medicinal products) in development and on the market.

Moncef Slaoui said: “I am delighted to welcome James to GSK. Our Chief Medical Officer (CMO) is vital to the success of this organisation. As the ‘voice of the patient’ within GSK, James will ensure the interests of the patient are placed at the centre of research, development and commercialisation of our medicines. James’ medical leadership, combined with his extensive experience of successful drug development, makes him a valuable addition to GSK.”

James, who is trained in cardiology, has more than 20 years experience at senior levels of the pharmaceutical industry. Most recently, he was Global Head of Drug Development for Novartis Pharma AG and since leaving Novartis in 2008, he has served on the boards of a number of companies. He received his undergraduate and post graduate degrees at Queen’s University of Belfast and is a Member of the Royal College of Physicians (UK).

James said: “One reason I wanted to come to GSK is that the company’s values so closely match my own. The commitment to quality, transparency and focus on the patient are certainly values that I can fully support and demonstrate as CMO to the benefit of patients and healthcare professionals around the world.”