180 feedback | Pharma giant GSK 'promotes' and 'fires' on culture, CEO reveals

Decisions around employee promotions and exits at pharmaceuticals firm GSK hinge significantly on cultural alignment, chief executive Emma Walmsley revealed last week.

Speaking to Nicolai Tangen, CEO of Norges Bank Investment Management, on the ‘In Good Company’ podcast, the exec outlined her committment to nurturing a strong company culture.

According to Walmsley, a “radical” overhaul of recruitment, training, and talent management around culture has been one of the biggest priorities for GSK in recent years.

‘You promote for it and you fire for it’ – GSK CEO on culture

Across the episode, GSK’s chief exec painted the picture of an organisation where culture lives beyond mission statements and HR departments, starting at the executive level and permeating down to each employee-manager relationship.