Emma Walmsley

Dame Emma Natasha Walmsley DBE (born June 1969) is a British businesswoman serving as Chief Executive Officer of GSK (GlaxoSmithKline) since April 2017, making her the first woman to run a major pharmaceutical company. Born in Barrow-in-Furness to Vice-Admiral Sir Robert Walmsley and Lady Christina Walmsley, she earned an MA in Classics and Modern Languages from Christ Church, Oxford. After 17 years at L'Oréal in marketing and general management roles across Paris, London, New York, and notably as General Manager of L'Oréal China (2007-2010) where she lived in Shanghai with husband David Owen and their four children, she joined GSK in 2010. Rising to lead GSK's global consumer healthcare division, she was appointed CEO in 2017 at age 48, leading the company through major transformation including the 2022 demerger of consumer healthcare into Haleon (now worth £30+ billion). Her £10.6 million 2024 compensation (potentially £21.6 million with performance targets) and leadership of the £60+ billion pharmaceutical giant has made her one of the UK's most powerful businesswomen. Married to David Owen since 1995 with four children, Walmsley was made a Dame Commander of the British Empire (DBE) in 2020. She announced in September 2025 she will step down as CEO in early 2026 after nearly nine years leading GSK.

Key facts: First female major pharma CEO | L'Oréal China experience | 4 children | DBE 2020 | Stepped down announced 2026 Compensation: £10.6M (2024) | Net worth: Estimated £50-70M Education: Oxford MA Classics and Modern Languages | Born to Vice-Admiral father Husband: David Owen (married 1995, met at university)