GlaxoSmithKline head of vaccines business to leave by year-end

GlaxoSmithKline said on Tuesday that the president of its vaccines business, Luc Debruyne, will leave at the end of the year following 27 years at the pharmaceutical company.

He will be replaced by current president of the global manufacturing and supply division, Roger Connor, on 1 September. Connor has been on the corporate executive team since 2012 and "has led the strategic transformation of GSK's supply chain to support improved quality and supply performance".

The group said he has a proven track record of leading a complex, global organisation, developing organisational capability and driving cultural transformation.

Also with effect from September, Regis Simard - currently senior vice president of global pharma manufacturing - will be appointed president of pharmaceutical supply chain and will join the corporate executive team. He joined Glaxo in 2005 as a site director in France, having worked in the electronics, medical devices and pharmaceuticals industries.

At 1535 BST, the shares were up 0.7% to 1,546.40p.