GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals Limited has appointed Bhushan Akshikar as the new managing director (MD) in India. Currently, Akshikar is the commercial head of the general medicines business of GSK in India. His role will come into effect on December 1, 2022. The newly appointed MD joined GSK India in September 2011.

Akshikar who comes with over 26 years of experience within the pharmaceutical industry will succeed Sridhar Venkatesh. His predecessor is moving to a new senior role within GSK Group, effective 1st December 2022.  

Venkatesh was appointed as the MD in 2020. He was responsible for providing leadership for a publicly-listed entity on the India national stock exchange with a market capitalization of ~£2B.

According to Akshikar Linkedin profile, he loves cultural diversity and has worked in India, South Korea, Belgium, Nigeria and Turkey.

Before joining GSK, Bhushan worked with Janssen, Johnson & Johnson in various roles leading both speciality and primary care business units in local and regional positions living in India, S Korea and Belgium for 15 years.

GSK started its journey in India and it employs 5,200 personnel spread across commercial, manufacturing, and other support functions with a total sale of £450M.