Pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has completed its hunt for a new general counsel with Sidley Austin life science partner Daniel Troy set to take the role.

Troy, who will also take up the position of senior vice president, is set to join the company on 2 September.

The hire comes after the high-profile former general counsel of GSK, Rupert Bondy, left to join energy giant BP in March as a replacement for BP's retiring veteran general counsel Peter Bevan.

Bondy joined SmithKline Beecham from City law firm Lovells in 1995 and was made general counsel at the pharmaceuticals giant in 2001 following the company's merger with Glaxo Wellcome in 2000.

In his role at Sidley Austin, Troy represents a number of pharmaceutical companies and trade associations on matters related to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and government regulations.

Troy has held a number of other roles including chief counsel to the US FDA, where he was primary liaison to the White House, and the US department of Health and Human Services reviewing and approving regulations.

The hire will be closely watched by the GSK's roster of external advisers, which includes chief corporate adviser Slaughter and May.

Andrew Witty, chief executive officer at GSK commented, "[Troy's] wealth of experience in the regulatory legislative area will be of enormous benefit to us, and ultimately to patients."

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