From cosmetics to drugs to PCs, Walmsley faces fresh outsider test at HP
HPQ•HP named former GSK chief Emma Walmsley as its next CEO, betting her experience reshaping a global company can help the PC maker navigate an industry downturn, supply-chain disruptions and rising component costs.
1. A new industry
Walmsley, 57, led GSK from 2017 until December 2025, overseeing the separation of its consumer healthcare business, now called Haleon. Before joining GSK in 2010, she spent 17 years at L'Oreal in management and marketing roles, including running its consumer products business in China.
2. Technology experience
Walmsley has served on Microsoft's board since 2019 and embraced AI at GSK, including in drug discovery. Analyst Patrick Moorhead said her experience could be relevant as HP bets on AI-enabled PCs, but identified soaring memory-chip prices as her more immediate challenge.
3. GSK tenure
Walmsley's GSK tenure included investor questions about the strength of its late-stage drug pipeline. Shore Capital analyst Sean Conroy praised her record in implementing major transformations and making decisions he said benefited shareholders.
