Dr. Gizem Akalin

Since October 2020 – Gizem Akalin is the Vice President and General Manager for the Gulf at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), the science-led global healthcare company with a special purpose: to help people do more, feel better, live longer. As Vice President and General Manager – Gulf, Gizem oversees a multi-million USD organization of over 250 employees working in the company’s Pharma and Vaccines divisions. Gizem is responsible for translating GSK’s strategic priorities into effective actions to achieve its goal to be one of the most innovative, best performing and trusted healthcare companies. She leads a strong, diverse team committed to the business growth and industry transformation in the Gulf, emphasizing patients first to provide them with access to promising, innovative medicines and vaccines. Gizem has joined GSK in 2015 and held various senior commercial roles for the Middle East, as well as for North Africa, Russia and the Common Independ States (CIS). Previously, Gizem served as the Vice President, Commercial Operations for the Emerging Markets and China, leading the development and implementation of the organization’s commercial activities across a wide region – inclusive of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Prior to joining GSK, Gizem held management positions at Boehringer Ingelheim and Merck. Gizem is a commercially driven senior leader with over 20 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical industry. Throughout her international career, she has driven strategic business transformation and change, leading to increases in market share, profitability and growth. She contributed to the delivery of billion-dollar portfolios through regional commercial strategy building, as well as through the strategic executions of innovative and classic portfolios and products launches across the Emerging Markets and China. Gizem is a Doctor of Business Administration and holds a Ph.D. in Marketing from Istanbul Bilgi University, Turkey. She holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Bosporus University and a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Middle East Technical University.