CSL appoints GSK veteran Deborah Waterhouse as CEO amid pressure to revive growth

CSL appointed Deborah Waterhouse as its next CEO and managing director on October 21, 2026. She is due to take up the role on February 1, 2027.

Waterhouse has led ViiV Healthcare since 2017. The HIV-medicines company is majority-owned by GSK, where she has also held senior roles including President of GSK Global Health.

She succeeds interim CEO Gordon Naylor, who will remain in the role through the handover and then return to CSL’s board as a non-executive director.

The appointment comes after a difficult period for CSL, including weaker performance, investor pressure, job-cut plans, postponed plans to spin off vaccine business Seqirus, and impairment charges linked to its Vifor Pharma acquisition.

CSL says Waterhouse was chosen to help restore growth, renew the product pipeline and simplify operations. She will remain based in the UK and spend significant time in Australia, the US and other major markets.