Glaxo rethinks senior levels after UK chief’s promotion

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is understood to have restructured its management following Roger Scarlett-Smith’s promotion from president of consumer healthcare in the UK to the same role for North America.

It is thought that James Hallett will replace Scarlett-Smith as the UK chief. It is not clear what role Hallett moves from but in the past he has been a global planning manager on brands such as Sensodyne.

Hallett will now be responsible for GSK’s consumer healthcare full brand portfolio in the UK, which includes Macleans, Aquafresh, Sensodyne, Lucozade and Panadol.

GSK is also believed to have moved Rachel Ferdinando, the UK marketer on mouthwash brand Corsodyl to a US-based role. It is not clear whether a replacement for Ferdinando has been appointed.

Scarlett-Smith is to head operations, including sales and marketing, for the US consumer healthcare business and will relocate from London to Pittsburgh.

Prior to his role in the UK, Scarlett-Smith held a number of GSK management roles in Australia and New Zealand and global marketing roles with the analgesics, respiratory and dermatology businesses within GSK consumer healthcare. Between 1993 and 1996, he worked in the US business as vice-president of marketing for oral healthcare and coughs and colds.

Scarlett-Smith replaces George Quesnelle, who will move to become president of global switch and strategic growth projects. Quesnelle, who is credited with leading GSK’s US business through a period of rapid growth, will continue to be based in Pittsburgh.