GC Influencers
Most Influential GCs - Global-wide
James R Ford of GlaxoSmithKline plc (GSK)
In mid-2018, James Ford ascended to the lead role in GSK’s legal department after over two decades with the pharmaceutical giant, taking charge of a team of over 600 lawyers across over 50 countries. His route to the top, through the company’s transactional team, consumer healthcare division, compliance group and international legal operations team, endows him with the wide-ranging skillset needed to handle issues posed across the company’s various divisions, with his role encompassing a broad spectrum of M&A, litigation, intellectual property and wider regulatory and risk management issues. His elevation to general counsel comes at a pivotal time for the company, which in late 2018 announced a transformational restructuring programme which will see it spin off its consumer healthcare division into a joint venture with Pfizer and focus on pharmaceuticals and vaccines. Commentators are sure that Ford will make a success of the role, revealing: “He’s a true generalist and he’s adept at all elements of his portfolio. He’s a great appointment.”