HP Inc. has appointed Emma Walmsley, the former chief executive of pharmaceutical company GSK, as its next CEO, effective January 4, 2027. The appointment comes as the technology company manages rising memory-chip costs, challenging personal computer market conditions, and opportunities in artificial intelligence. Walmsley will succeed interim CEO Bruce Broussard, who will become HP’s board chair.
Key Takeaways
- HP announced Emma Walmsley’s appointment as its next CEO on November 4, 2026
- Walmsley will assume the position on January 4, 2027
- She served as GSK’s chief executive from April 2017 through December 2025
- Interim CEO Bruce Broussard will become board chair, succeeding Chip Bergh
- AI-enabled computing, operational costs, and business growth are among HP’s priorities for its incoming leadership
HP Selects Emma Walmsley as Its Next Chief Executive
HP’s board unanimously selected Walmsley following a global executive search. She will assume responsibility for the company’s business operations, corporate strategy, and long-term priorities when the leadership transition takes effect in January.
Her appointment follows a period of interim leadership under Bruce Broussard, who became CEO in February 2026 after Enrique Lores stepped down. Broussard will remain in the position until January 2027, when Walmsley takes over.
Walmsley’s selection brings an executive with experience in pharmaceuticals and consumer goods into a technology company whose business includes personal computers, printers, software, and related services.
HP’s board cited her experience managing international organizations, overseeing corporate transformation, and identifying growth opportunities as important considerations in the appointment.
Walmsley will also bring experience serving on Microsoft’s board of directors, where she has been a member for seven years. Her background combines executive management responsibilities with exposure to governance and strategic decisions within the technology industry.
Leadership Transition Establishes January 2027 Start Date
Walmsley will officially become HP’s chief executive on January 4, 2027. On the same date, Broussard will move into the board chair position, succeeding Chip Bergh, who has chaired HP’s board since 2017.
Bergh will remain a director following the transition. The arrangement maintains experienced board leadership while transferring executive responsibility to Walmsley.
The effective date coincides with WM’s planned CEO succession, which is also scheduled for January 4, 2027. However, the leadership arrangements differ. WM’s outgoing chief executive plans to retire and leave its board, while HP’s interim CEO will remain involved as board chair.
For HP, the leadership transition establishes distinct responsibilities for its incoming executive and board leadership. Walmsley will oversee the company’s business performance and strategic direction, while Broussard will lead the board’s governance activities.
The scheduled transition also provides a defined period for transferring responsibilities before Walmsley assumes the chief executive position.
Walmsley’s GSK Tenure and Corporate Leadership Experience
Walmsley served as GSK’s chief executive from April 2017 through December 2025. During that period, she oversaw changes to the pharmaceutical company’s business portfolio, investment priorities, and organizational structure.
Her tenure included the separation of GSK’s consumer healthcare business into Haleon in 2022. The transaction allowed GSK to concentrate more closely on biopharmaceutical operations, particularly specialty medicines and vaccines.
She also oversaw investment in research and development and changes to GSK’s product pipeline. These responsibilities involved balancing existing commercial operations with decisions about future products and business development.
Before becoming GSK’s chief executive, Walmsley held leadership positions within the company after joining in 2010. Earlier in her career, she spent approximately 17 years at L’Oréal, where she worked across several international consumer businesses.
Experience Across Different Industries
Walmsley’s previous executive experience differs from HP’s core technology operations. While GSK develops pharmaceutical products and vaccines, HP operates in markets involving computing hardware, printing equipment, software, and services.
The businesses nevertheless share responsibilities involving international operations, investment planning, organizational management, and financial performance.
Her appointment gives HP a chief executive experienced in corporate restructuring and managing established businesses through strategic changes. How that experience influences HP’s technology operations will become clearer after she assumes the position.
HP Faces Component Costs and Personal Computer Market Pressures
Walmsley will take over HP as the company addresses higher memory-chip expenses and changing demand across the personal computer market.
Memory and storage costs have increased substantially during 2026, affecting PC manufacturers’ production expenses and pricing decisions. Earlier in the year, HP estimated that memory and storage could account for approximately 35% of its PC component costs, compared with roughly 15% to 18% previously.
HP’s fiscal third-quarter results also reflected the pressures affecting its hardware business. PC unit shipments declined approximately 16% from a year earlier, while revenue from its Personal Systems division increased about 18%, supported by pricing and a shift toward higher-value products.
These conditions create operational considerations involving manufacturing costs, product pricing, inventory management, and customer demand.
HP must also determine how to allocate resources between established product categories and newer technologies, including AI-enabled personal computers.
Managing these priorities will be among Walmsley’s responsibilities once she becomes chief executive. Her role will involve overseeing financial performance while evaluating opportunities across HP’s existing technology portfolio.
Artificial Intelligence and Business Growth Shape Leadership Priorities
Artificial intelligence is among the areas HP has identified as important to its future business strategy.
The company has been developing AI-enabled personal computers and related technologies as more computing functions incorporate artificial intelligence. HP’s leadership has also emphasized opportunities associated with running AI workloads directly on devices.
Walmsley will be responsible for overseeing these initiatives alongside the company’s established hardware and services operations.
Similar considerations are present in Adobe’s CEO transition and AI strategy, where incoming leadership will oversee established software businesses alongside expanding AI capabilities. HP operates in a different technology market, with additional responsibilities involving component availability, hardware manufacturing, and device pricing.
For HP, pursuing AI-related opportunities requires coordination between product development, commercial planning, and operational management.
Walmsley’s experience leading corporate transformation provides a background for overseeing these responsibilities, although HP has not announced a detailed new AI strategy tied specifically to her appointment.
The company’s direction under Walmsley will depend on decisions made after the leadership transition, including how HP manages its existing businesses while evaluating additional growth opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Emma Walmsley, HP’s incoming CEO?
Emma Walmsley is the former chief executive of GSK, where she served from April 2017 through December 2025. She previously held senior leadership positions at L’Oréal and has served on Microsoft’s board of directors.
When will Emma Walmsley become HP’s CEO?
Walmsley is scheduled to become HP’s chief executive on January 4, 2027, succeeding interim CEO Bruce Broussard.
Who replaced Emma Walmsley as GSK CEO?
Luke Miels succeeded Emma Walmsley as GSK’s chief executive on January 1, 2026. He previously served as the pharmaceutical company’s chief commercial officer.
What position will Bruce Broussard hold after the transition?
Broussard will become HP’s board chair on January 4, 2027, succeeding Chip Bergh. He has served as HP’s interim chief executive since February 2026.
What are HP’s priorities under its incoming CEO?
HP’s priorities include managing rising component costs, responding to personal computer market conditions, developing AI-enabled technology, and identifying additional business growth opportunities. Walmsley will oversee these areas when she assumes the chief executive position.
