Just who is Glaxo's Andrew Witty?

If yesterday was Andrew Witty's debut as heir apparent to the GlaxoSmithKline CEO suite, then today is the morning-after gossip session about his prospects. Here's a sampling:

• He's young--just 43--so he has the luxury of thinking long-term strategy; he could be at Glaxo's helm for 20 years.
• He has his work cut out for him, considering Glaxo's stock decline over the past six years. Investors are impatient.
• He's a details man, but not a control freak
• He's a motivator, a visionary
• He's passionate about unlocking value
• His international experience will serve him in good stead as Glaxo looks to expand in Asia
• If he's so charismatic, why doesn't he step up to the mike?

And so on. As with any executive appointment, this one raises as many questions as it answers. All the Monday-morning quarterbacking in the world won't predict exactly how his tenure will unfold. But who doesn't love to speculate?

• see the article from the San Diego Union Tribune
• read this Financial Times report
• here's the Telegraph's skeptical commentary
• read what analysts think of Witty

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