GSK´s Ernestine Harris Honored as Industry ´Rising Star´ by Healthcare Businesswomen´s Association

PITTSBURGH, May. 08 /PRNewswire/ --

PITTSBURGH, May 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- An international organization dedicated to furthering the advancement of women in healthcare is honoring a GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Consumer Healthcare executive today during an awards luncheon at the New York City Hilton. Ernestine Harris, GSK Consumer Healthcare's U.S. director of human resources, is being recognized as a "Rising Star" by the Healthcare Businesswomen's Association (HBA). The organization is recognized as the catalyst for the professional development and leadership of women in healthcare worldwide.

"Helping others grow and succeed is a way of life for Ernestine Harris. Through her energy, enthusiasm and innovation, she has helped GSK realize a more diverse and inclusive work culture in which people are respected for their differences," said George Quesnelle, President, GSK Consumer Healthcare, North America. "GSK is a better place to work as a result of Ernestine's vision and leadership."

HBA Rising Stars are up-and-coming professionals in various sectors of the healthcare industry, including pharmaceutical, biotechnology, advertising, public relations, medical education and market research, among other fields. Nominated by HBA's corporate members, the Rising Stars represent various career stages and disciplines, and have demonstrated noteworthy achievements and proven attention to furthering their careers.

With more than 20 years of human resources experience, Harris is a seasoned professional with diverse skills covering the spectrum of the HR discipline. She has leveraged her expertise and passion over the past ten years with GSK Consumer Healthcare to bring to life the company's philosophy and diversity through a number of innovative and successful initiatives. One noteworthy accomplishment is GSK's Cultural Diversity Players, a 22-member cross-functional team that works to leverage cultural diversity with all aspects of GSK Consumer Healthcare's business operation. Under her leadership, all associates have been trained on cultural diversity and people managers have been given tools to improve their skills at managing diverse associates. Some of Harris' additional efforts include:

-- Creation of six new employee networks: African American Alliance, Conexion Latina, Asian Network, Gay Lesbian Bi-Sexual Transgender Network, the Women's Leadership Initiative and the Prime Time Partners Network; -- Assembly of a Diversity Library that provides materials on women and other diverse groups; -- Establishment of a GSK partnership with the Sto-Rox School District that offers mentoring, scholarships, diversity training and job shadowing; and -- Participation on the board of directors for several Pittsburgh organizations that focus on recruiting and retaining employees as well as finding employment for traditionally difficult-to-hire job candidates.

"Ernestine has built a career and focused her life on helping others succeed in theirs," remarked Quesnelle. "We are thrilled that she is being recognized with this prestigious award, and we're proud of the accomplishments that she has achieved not only at GSK but in our community as well."

About GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare

GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare is one of the world's largest over-the-counter consumer healthcare products companies. Its more than 30 well-known brands include the leading smoking cessation products, Nicorette(R) and NicoDerm(R), as well as many medicine cabinet staples, Abreva(R), Aquafresh(R), Sensodyne(R) and Tums(R), which are trademarks owned by and/or licensed to GlaxoSmithKline Group of Companies.

About GlaxoSmithKline

GlaxoSmithKline, one of the world's leading research-based pharmaceutical and consumer healthcare companies, is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer.

About the HBA

The Healthcare Businesswomen's Association (HBA; www.hbanet.org) is celebrating its 30th year (1977-2007) as a global not-for-profit organization dedicated to furthering the advancement of women in healthcare worldwide. With 13 chapters and affiliates throughout the United States and Europe, the HBA is headquartered in New Jersey with offices in Philadelphia and Research Triangle Park. The HBA provides educational opportunities for women and men to develop cutting edge healthcare industry knowledge and leadership skills; recognizes outstanding women and men in the industry; provides opportunities for networking; creates greater visibility for women in the industry; fosters mentoring relationships; and serves as a conduit and sponsor for research on career advancement issues. The HBA has over 4,000 individual members and nearly 130 corporate partners. It is widely recognized as the catalyst for the professional development and leadership of women in healthcare worldwide.