Meet Andrew Witty, Glaxo’s Executive Recruiter
8 CommentsBy Ed Silverman // July 24th, 2008 // 9:59 am
The drugmaker has just launched its own channel on YouTube in a bid to polish its image, explain its purpose in life and, in Witty’s case, lure others to apply for work, even as some jobs are being eliminated (please look here and here).
So far, only two videos can be seen, but in one, Witty recounts his start as a management trainee in 1985 and goes on to say Glaxo is looking for people who are curious and like challenge. No doubt, he would like to hear from anyone who knows how to develop spiffy new drugs more quickly. There was no mention, however, of seeking people who can develop rules about disclosing side effect data from clinical trials. Then again, the clip ended prematurely. You can watch here.
Lisa Van S
I’m a curious individual, who is always up for a challenge. I wouldnt expect any offers though.
BOB FIDDAMAN
Anyone care to count how many times Witty blinks when ‘bigging up’ GSK?
fID
Paul G
Good to see the face of a pharma CEO in a more casual way
Justice in MI
There were a rash of such industry ads over in the early 2000s. Remember Hank MacKinnell in his checkered shirt? Michigan’s then Pfizer chief also took to the airwaves (radio).
Of course, we didn’t have U-Tube then. Are they on MTV?
Jeffrey Clark, CEO of Beaker.com - The Online Community for Life Sciences Professionals
From what I can tell, this is the second big healthcare products company to create their own YouTube channel, but the first dedicated to the recruitment of talent to the organization. J&J created a channel on YouTube about 2-3 weeks ago to disseminate the library of unused video content it has lying around its offices.
I applaud GSK. This is the way of the future. Candidates want insight into an organization, not their polished PR & Investor Relations messaging. Now, the key is providing all that content on a focused life sciences platform so it all does not get lost in the generality of a site like YouTube.
Welcome to Beaker.
truthman30
Although I would like to believe that Mr Witty is a man of integrity whom holds the value of human life above profits, I have yet to be convinced that the organization that is GSK has any other agenda apart from financial gain…
That said, Mr Witty seems like an affable enough individual which has to be an improvement on Mr JP Garnier, who was seen by many as arrogant, out of touch, condescending, uncaring and pompous …
If Mr Witty wants to change GSK’s image, that will take a long time, information on Avandia and about children killing themselves on Paxil because of GSK suppressing data will resonate on the internet for a long time to come… Parents , friends and families don’t easily forget things like that.. The GSK image is heading towards that of an “Enron”..
If Mr Witty wants to wipe the slate clean after the departure of JP Garnier, all he would have to do is apologize to people and families of those harmed by Paxil -Seroxat, Avandia etc etc…
I know that will never happen due to lawsuits etc, but he would have to realize himself that people respond to sincerity and genuine remorse and the only way to heal hurt is to acknowledge it and admit it was wrong..
One little youtube video is not going to redeem a pharmaceutical company which is viewed by many as a an inhuman corporate monster with no regard for patients , consumers, ethics and humanity in general..
I do also feel that GSK’s recent entree into the world of Youtube and social media could be a little too late and this PR exercise could very easily get lost amongst the growing volume of negative GSK videos which have already established themselves firmly on the Youtube channel…
These are but a small example of GSK video’s currently showing on youtube… (notice when you search the word “GSK” on youtube)
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=GSK&search_type=&aq=f
Jim
While vacationing on LBI last week, I noticed planes flying down the beach with tail banners “Refreshing Careers - GSK.COM” Curious that they’re pushed out one door and welcomed in the next.
truthman30
http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2008/07/25/glaxo-says-lights-camera-action/
Looks like the Wall Street Journal has begun to report on this now..
I found this part of the article the most interesting..
“Glaxo will probably steer clear of posting items about prescription products on YouTube, because it doesn’t want to run afoul of regulations on communicating drug information to the public, Thomson said.
Critics of the company haven’t been shy about posting their own videos, though, including a slew on the antidepressant sold as Paxil in the U.S. or Seroxat elsewhere. One stark video is an open letter to Glaxo by a woman who claims the company’s antidepressant Wellbutrin gave her tremors. Finally, there’s a video on the most bizarre game of Frisbee that we’ve ever seen, which for reasons we can’t determine begins with the title “GlaxoSmithKline.”
Glaxo’s Thomson declined to comment on any of the material that wasn’t produced by the company.”