HP Appoints Former GSK Chief Emma Walmsley as CEO

HP Inc.’s board on Wednesday unanimously appointed Emma Walmsley as chief executive officer, effective Jan. 4, 2027, the company said in a statement from Palo Alto, California. The Verge and The Register also reported the appointment.

Succession plan

Walmsley will succeed Bruce Broussard, who has served as interim chief executive since February 2026 after Enrique Lores left the role, according to HP and The Verge. Broussard will become chair of the board on the same date, succeeding Chip Bergh, HP said. Bergh has been chair since 2017 and a director since 2015 and will remain chair until Broussard takes over.

Walmsley’s background

Walmsley was chief executive of GSK from April 2017 through December 2025 and has served on Microsoft’s board for seven years, HP said. She joined GSK in 2010, became chief executive of GSK Consumer Healthcare in 2015, and earlier spent 17 years at L’Oreal in marketing and general management roles, according to the company.

“HP is an iconic company with a defining role in shaping the future of work on a global scale,” Walmsley said in HP’s statement. “I’m excited to join the team and, together, move forward with clarity and conviction.”

Bergh said the board ran a comprehensive global search and that Walmsley stood out for leadership experience across industries and for translating customer insights into growth. HP shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker HPQ.

Sources: HP Inc., The Verge, The Register.