Phil Thomson | Influence 100

Phil Thomson 

President, Global Affairs 
GSK 
UK

 

 

GSK lifer Phil Thomson joined what was Glaxo Wellcome as a commercial trainee in 1996. Some 14 years of various marketing and PR roles later he took over responsibility for global comms in 2010. In 2014, his role was expanded to include government affairs.

A Durham University graduate, Thomson has specific responsibility for GSK’s strategic approach to reputation, corporate responsibility, global health, government affairs and external policy. He’s also responsible for the group’s engagement and relationships with investors, media, government, key global community partners and employees.

In 2020 GSK became a major player in the Covid pandemic, developing a vaccine in partnership with Sanofi, as well as its own corporate developments including spinning off its consumer healthcare business. Unsurprisingly then Thomson was at the helm whilst GSK fielded many questions and speculations about the pandemic and about healthcare overall. He said at the time he felt the pharma sector was well placed to help tackle health inequalities, through innovation and taking a global approach to access.