Tobias Hestler
Major Career Roles
- CFO Consumer Healthcare, GSK plc
- CFO, Haleon plc
Other Career Highlights
- CFO, Sandoz and division CFO Novartis Consumer Healthcare
- Advisory Committee member, London Business School
- Chair, Hexal AG
Tobias Hestler has a wealth of experience as a commercial and transformation-orientated FTSE 100 CFO and Non-Executive Director, with international experience spanning Consumer and Animal Health, OTC, Generic, and Biosimilars Medicines industries. His expertise encompasses global manufacturing footprints, innovation cycles, consumer marketing, B2B, and direct selling go-to-market models.
Tobias is the former Group CFO and Executive Board member of Haleon plc, a role he held from 2021 to 2024. Haleon was formed in 2019 through a Joint Venture of the Consumer Healthcare businesses of Pfizer Inc. and GSK plc. Tobias led the integration of those businesses as its CFO and the subsequent preparation of the spin-off and listing of Haleon as an independent company coupled with a major portfolio transformation (that included divesting over 50 brands).
Prior to this he held the role of CFO for GSK’s Consumer Healthcare business, while the business was a Joint Venture between Novartis and GSK (until 2018). Prior to joining the Novartis/GSK Joint Venture in 2017, Tobias was the Global CFO at Sandoz - Novartis’ Generics Business. In 2010, he was named CFO for the former Novartis Consumer Health Division (which included the CibaVision, Animal Health and OTC businesses of Novartis), a position that evolved into Tobias' role as CFO for the Novartis OTC division.
Earlier in his career he held both local and global finance leadership roles at Novartis in the US, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. His positions included CFO for the Animal Health division, Global Controller for Sandoz, and CFO for Hexal AG.
Tobias holds an MBA (lic.oec.HSG) in Finance and Accounting from the University of St Gallen.
Previously, he was Chair of Hexal AG and Non-Executive Director and Audit Chair at Pradaschier AG.
Tobias is a passionate mentor and advocate for LGBTQ+ diversity, equity, and inclusion, showcasing the impact of LGBTQ+ leadership at the FTSE board level.
Tobias is deeply committed to mentoring and developing the next generation of finance leaders. He is a regular speaker and teacher at the university, a member of Deloitte’s Next Gen CFO Programme and of London Business School’s Future Supply Chain Leaders Programme, sharing his knowledge and experience with the next generation of leaders.