GSK plc, formerly GlaxoSmithKline plc, has spun out its consumer health product business into a new listed company called Haleon, the new name for GSK’s activities in Ireland.
Haleon - pronounced ‘Hay-Lee-On’ - was unveiled as the name of the business in February 2022 and is inspired by the merging of the words 'Hale', which is an old English word meaning 'in good health', and Leon, which is associated with the word 'strength'.
In Ireland, Haleon employs c.930 people, including 900 at a manufacturing facility in Dungarvan.
This site is one of the largest manufacturing sites in Haleon’s consumer health network, producing 9 billion Panadol tablets and 131 million tubes of Poligrip denture care tablets for global supply to over 70 markets.
Other well-known Haleon consumer brands include Sensodyne, Voltaren, Advil and Centrum.
In Association with
Trading in Haleon shares commenced on July 18 on the London Stock Exchange. Trading on the New York Stock Exchange is set to commence on July 20.
Earlier this year, GSK rejected a bid from Unilever for the Haleon portfolio, and Unilever shareholders were against the idea too.
What’s left of GSK will have a focus on high-tech medicines.
Haleon says its expects to deliver medium-term annual organic revenue growth of 4-6% by working to remove barriers to better everyday health, and by aiming to empower 50 million people a year by 2025 to be more included in opportunities for better everyday health.
Haleon CEO Brian McNamara commented: “Guided by our clear purpose and with a world class portfolio of brands that people know and trust, we stand ready to help address consumer needs and make better everyday health more achievable, inclusive and sustainable.
“Consumer health has never been more important than it is today, and I am delighted that Haleon, as an independent company, is ready to pursue our ambitions.”
Dave Barrett, Haleon’s country manager in Ireland, stated: “Our purpose is to ‘deliver better everyday health with humanity’ and as a global leader now 100% focused on improving consumer health, we are dedicated to making better everyday health more achievable, inclusive and sustainable.”
Haleon group employs over 22,000 people across 170 markets around the world.
