Jean-Pierre Garnier

Scientist and business leader, Jean-Pierre Garnier graduated from Louis Pasteur University (Ph.D. in Pharmacology) and Stanford University (Master in Business Administration). He started his career in 1975 at the pharmaceutical company Schering-Plough where he held a number of management positions in Europe before becoming President of their American division. In 1990, he joined Smithkline Beecham Laboratories as President of the Pharmaceuticals Division and became President and CEO in 1999.

In 2000, Jean-Pierre Garnier achieved the merger of two of the largest pharmaceutical groups (SmithKline Beecham and Glaxo Wellcome), to create GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), which he chaired until 2008.

The Best Practice Institute has nominated Jean-Pierre Garnier as one of the world’s top 20 CEOs. He is an Officier de la Légion d’Honneur (Officer of the Legion of Honour) and Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire.