Witty to be new ceo at GSK

GlaxoSmithKline's European president of pharmaceuticals has won a four-way contest to succeed current ceo Jean-Pierre Garnier.

Andrew Witty has been appointed ceo designate and will take over in May 2008 when Garnier retires from the UK-based firm.

The decision ends a two-year battle between Witty and three other internal candidates - Chris Viehbacher, his US counterpart, David Stout, president of pharmaceuticals operations, and Russell Greig, head of international operations.

Witty, 43, joined Glaxo UK's graduate training scheme in 1985.

He became GSK's European president of pharmaceuticals in 2003, and has also worked in South Africa, Asia and the US.

As chief executive of one of the UK's largest companies, Witty will face several challenges.

Some investors have urged the firm to spin off parts of its consumer arm, which makes nutritional drinks and over-the-counter drugs.

The company has also suffered problems with two key pharmaceutical products in the US. In August 2007 the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) delayed approval of its new migraine drug Trexima for a second time.

This followed a scare over its Avandia diabetes drug, which remains on sale in the US despite concerns that it increases the risk of heart problems.