Mirror Review
November 5, 2026
HP Inc. has appointed former GSK CEO Emma Walmsley as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective January 4, 2027. HP’s new CEO Emma Walmsley will succeed interim CEO Bruce Broussard, who will become Chair of HP’s Board of Directors on the same date, replacing Chip Bergh.
Walmsley led GSK from April 2017 through December 2025 and has served on Microsoft’s Board of Directors since 2019. She will take charge as HP navigates changes in the PC market, cost pressures, and growing demand for AI-enabled computing.
Who Is Emma Walmsley, HP’s New CEO?
Emma Walmsley is a business executive whose career includes senior roles at L’Oréal and GSK, followed by board service at Microsoft. She holds an MA in Classics and Modern Languages from Oxford University, according to GSK’s director biography.
Emma Walmsley Career: Key Milestones
| Year | Career milestone |
| Before 2010 | Spent 17 years at L’Oréal building and leading major global consumer businesses. |
| 2010 | Joined GSK. |
| 2015 | Became CEO of GSK Consumer Healthcare. |
| April 2017 | Appointed Group CEO of GSK. |
| 2019 | Joined Microsoft’s Board of Directors. |
| December 2025 | Stepped down as GSK CEO. |
| January 2027 | Scheduled to become HP CEO. |
Emma Walmsley GSK Leadership and Major Achievements
Emma Walmsley’s leadership at GSK focused on strengthening GSK’s pharmaceutical business and improving its research pipeline.
Her key achievements included:
- Sharpened GSK’s strategic focus on specialty medicines and vaccines.
- Reinvigorated the company’s research and development pipeline.
- Strengthened GSK’s balance sheet following the separation of its consumer healthcare business.
- Enhanced the company’s leadership and succession pipeline.
Walmsley stepped down as GSK CEO in December 2025. She subsequently served as an adviser to GSK’s board and CEO from January through September 2026.
Why HP Appointed Former GSK CEO Emma Walmsley
HP’s board emphasized Walmsley’s leadership experience across industries, strategic thinking, and ability to translate customer insights into growth.
The HP CEO appointment followed a comprehensive global search focused on the leadership capabilities needed for the company’s next phase. HP Chair Chip Bergh explained the board’s decision in the official announcement:
“Throughout the process, Emma stood out for the strength of her leadership experience across multiple industries, the clarity of her strategic thinking and her ability to translate customer insights into new growth.”
HP Leadership Transition
| Leadership role | Executive | Transition date |
| Incoming CEO | Emma Walmsley | January 4, 2027 |
| Interim CEO | Bruce Broussard | Until January 4, 2027 |
| Incoming Board Chair | Bruce Broussard | January 4, 2027 |
| Outgoing Board Chair | Chip Bergh | Until January 4, 2027 |
Walmsley will become HP’s CEO, while Broussard will assume the board chair position on January 4, 2027.
Emma Walmsley’s Microsoft Board Experience and HP’s AI Strategy
Emma Walmsley joined Microsoft’s Board of Directors in 2019 and served on its Compensation and Environmental, Social, and Public Policy committees.
Microsoft announced on November 4, 2026, that Walmsley would not stand for re-election at its December 8, 2026, annual shareholders’ meeting following her HP appointment. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said,
“We are grateful to Emma for her contributions to Microsoft and the industry expertise, thoughtful judgment, and global perspective she brought to our board.”
HP’s interim CEO Bruce Broussard said the company needs a leader who can capture opportunities “as AI moves to the edge, transforming how we work and live in a more connected world,” according to HP’s appointment announcement.
Walmsley also outlined her priorities for the role, saying,
“We will focus on harnessing the power of the AI era and putting HP’s creativity and innovation to work to unlock new sources of growth and deliver lasting value for our customers, shareholders, partners and people.”
What Will Emma Walmsley Face as HP Inc. CEO?
HP’s new CEO Emma Walmsley will take charge as the company manages different performance trends across its Personal Systems and Printing businesses.
HP reported fiscal 2026 third-quarter revenue of $15.7 billion, up 12.5% year over year. Its official financial results showed the following segment performance:
- Personal Systems: Revenue reached $11.8 billion, up 18%, while total unit shipments declined 16%.
- Printing: Revenue was $3.9 billion, down 2%, while total hardware units declined 7%.
- AI PCs: HP reported that innovations in AI PCs helped it continue attracting new customers during the quarter.
What Lies Ahead for HP’s New CEO Emma Walmsley?
HP’s new CEO Emma Walmsley brings experience in consumer businesses, pharmaceuticals, and technology-sector governance to her next leadership role. Her tenure will put that experience to the test as HP works to strengthen its Personal Systems and Printing businesses while pursuing growth through AI-powered computing. How effectively she translates her experience at GSK and Microsoft into HP’s next phase will be an important measure of her leadership.
