GSK grabs Astra executive to replace exiting pharma head

LONDON (Reuters) - GlaxoSmithKline said on Thursday that Abbas Hussain, its global head of pharmaceuticals, is leaving the company and will be replaced by Luke Miels from AstraZeneca.

Hussain had been seen as a potential contender to take over from Chief Executive Andrew Witty, who steps down at the end of March, but the job went to GSK's consumer health division boss Emma Walmsley.

"Succession processes are challenging for everyone involved and, unfortunately, it is rare that all of those involved stay with the company," Witty said.

Miels' defection is a blow for AstraZeneca, which has seen a string of high-profile scientists leave in the last 18 months.

Its head of oncology, Mondher Mahjoubi, left to join French biotech company Innate Pharma a month ago, while Sanofi poached one of its top researchers in March.

Walmsley, who become GSK's chief executive in April, said Miels would brings a combination of excellent R&D insight and a strong track record of commercial execution.

At AstraZeneca, Miels launched cancer medicine Tagrisso in the United States, and improved growth of the cardiovascular and metabolic portfolios, notably heart drug Brilinta, GSK said.

(Reporting by Ben Hirschler and Paul Sandle; editing by Susan Fenton and Jason Neely)