HP Inc. has appointed Emma Walmsley, former Chief Executive Officer of global biopharmaceutical company GSK, as its new CEO, effective January 4, 2027. The leadership change comes as HP prepares to accelerate its AI strategy and pursue new growth opportunities amid a major transformation in the future of work.
HP announced that its Board of Directors has unanimously approved Walmsley’s appointment following a comprehensive global search. She will succeed Bruce Broussard, who has served as Interim CEO since February 2026.
On the same date, Broussard will assume the role of Chair of HP’s Board of Directors, succeeding Chip Bergh, who has held the position since 2017 and has served on the company’s Board since 2015.
Broussard said HP is entering an important period of technological change, particularly as artificial intelligence increasingly moves to edge devices and reshapes how people work and interact with technology.
He highlighted Walmsley’s extensive leadership experience, ability to manage large-scale organizations and track record of guiding businesses through significant transformations. These capabilities, he said, will be important in bringing HP’s businesses, technology capabilities and workforce together to capture emerging opportunities.
Walmsley described HP as an iconic global technology company with a significant role in shaping the future of work. She said her priorities will include harnessing the opportunities created by AI, strengthening the company’s innovation capabilities and identifying new sources of sustainable growth and long-term value for customers, shareholders, partners and employees.
Extensive Leadership Experience Across Global Businesses
Walmsley brings nearly nine years of experience as CEO of GSK, where she served from April 2017 through December 2025. During her tenure, she led a major transformation of the global biopharmaceutical company, strengthening its operating performance and sharpening its strategic focus.
Under her leadership, GSK concentrated more heavily on specialty medicines and vaccines, accelerated the development of its research and development pipeline, and improved its financial position following the separation of its consumer healthcare business.
She also worked to strengthen the company’s leadership structure and succession planning.
Walmsley joined GSK in 2010 and became CEO of GSK Consumer Healthcare in 2015 before taking over as Group CEO two years later. Earlier in her career, she spent 17 years at L’Oréal, where she held leadership positions overseeing major international consumer businesses.
In addition to her executive experience, Walmsley has served on Microsoft’s Board of Directors for seven years, giving her further exposure to the global technology industry and its strategic developments.
Her background across pharmaceuticals, consumer businesses and technology governance is expected to bring a broad perspective to HP as the company navigates the next phase of its development.
Leadership Transition Ahead of HP’s Next Growth Phase
Chip Bergh said Walmsley emerged as the leading candidate following an extensive international recruitment process. The Board highlighted her cross-industry leadership experience, strategic thinking and ability to translate customer insights into business growth.
He also emphasized her people-focused management approach, particularly her ability to align teams around clear priorities, execution and long-term value creation.
Bergh thanked Broussard for his leadership during the interim period, noting that his contribution allowed the Board to conduct a thorough CEO selection process while maintaining continuity in the company’s operations.
Broussard, in turn, acknowledged Bergh’s nine years as Chair, crediting his leadership with helping HP navigate significant business changes while maintaining a focus on corporate governance, capital allocation and shareholder value.
The appointment comes as the global PC and printing industries face significant changes driven by artificial intelligence, evolving workplace requirements and the growing demand for connected devices.
AI-powered PCs and edge computing are creating new opportunities for hardware manufacturers to expand beyond traditional product categories and deliver more integrated computing experiences.
Against this backdrop, Walmsley’s appointment signals HP’s intention to combine its established innovation capabilities with new strategic priorities in the AI era. Her challenge will be to translate these opportunities into competitive products, stronger business performance and sustainable growth.