Former GSK CEO to Co-Lead WHO’s COVID-19 Vaccine Effort

Andrew Witty, the former CEO of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), has been appointed to co-lead the World Health Organization’s efforts to develop a vaccine for COVID-19.

Witty was GSK’s CEO from 2008 to 2017, and he led the company’s vaccine development efforts. He is now CEO of Optum, a pharmacy benefits manager and healthcare services group owned by UnitedHealth Group.

Witty will take a leave of absence from Optum effective April 20 and will return to that role at the end of the year.