CEO Designate

GlaxoSmithKline PLC
07 October 2007

Issued: 8th October 2007, London 7am


              GlaxoSmithKline Appoints Andrew Witty CEO Designate

The Board of GlaxoSmithKline plc ("GSK") (LSE & NYSE: GSK) today announced the
appointment of Andrew Witty as CEO Designate, GlaxoSmithKline.

Andrew Witty, currently President, Pharmaceuticals Europe for GlaxoSmithKline,
will succeed Dr Jean-Pierre Garnier following his retirement as Chief Executive
Officer at the end of May 2008.

Sir Christopher Gent, Chairman, GlaxoSmithKline said: "Andrew's appointment
follows a rigorous selection process by the Board of Directors.  The fact that
we have been able to select a successor to JP from three strong internal
candidates is a testament to the quality of management at GSK. The Board is
confident that Andrew will build on JP's considerable achievements which have
positioned GSK as a leader of the pharmaceutical industry."

JP Garnier said: "Andrew has made many significant contributions to GSK and I am
very pleased that he is to be our next CEO. I look forward to working with him
during our handover and wish him every success."

GlaxoSmithKline - one of the world's leading research-based pharmaceutical and
healthcare companies - is committed to improving the quality of human life by
enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer.

Simon Bicknell
Company Secretary
8th October 2007

Enquiries:

UK Media enquiries:                                    Philip Thomson          [phone]
                                                       Alice Hunt              [phone]
                                                       Joss Mathieson          [phone]
                                                       Claire Brough           [phone]

US Media enquiries:                                    Nancy Pekarek           [phone]
                                                       Mary Anne Rhyne         [phone]

European Analyst/Investor enquiries:                   David Mawdsley          [phone]
                                                       Sally Ferguson          [phone]

US Analyst/ Investor enquiries:                        Frank Murdolo           [phone]
                                                       Tom Curry               [phone]


Notes to Editors:

Andrew Witty was appointed President, Pharmaceuticals Europe for GlaxoSmithKline
in January 2003. He is a member of the Corporate Executive Team. Previously, he
held the role of Senior Vice President, Asia Pacific, based in Singapore.

Andrew joined Glaxo UK in 1985. He held various positions in the UK, including
Director of Pharmacy and Distribution, International Product Manager and a
variety of other sales & marketing positions. He later served as Managing
Director, Glaxo South Africa and Area Director for South and East Africa.
Immediately prior to his move to Asia Pacific, he was Vice President and General
Manager, Marketing for Glaxo Wellcome Inc, the company's US subsidiary, where he
had responsibility for strategy development, marketing execution and new product
positioning.

While in Singapore Andrew served as Economic Advisor to the Governor of
Guangzhou, China from 2000 to 2002. He was also a member of the Singapore
Economic Development Board, and sat on the Economic Development Board audit
committee and the Singapore Land Authority Board.

Andrew is a member of the INSEAD UK Council, a member of the interim board of
OSCHR (the Office for Strategic Coordination of Health Research), sits on the
Imperial College Commercialisation Advisory Board and is a member of the London
Council for the Advancement of Science and Technology. He is a member of the
Pharma Futures Working Group, and of the UK's newly created Health Innovation
Council.

Andrew is 43 years old and is married with 2 children. He enjoys tennis, running
and watching rugby and cricket. He has a BA in economics from Nottingham
University in the UK.


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange