“Expanding influence, driving excellence, and shaping the future of healthcare.”
George Clayton is a seasoned leader in medical affairs, pharmaceutical sales, and scientific exchange with over 22 years of experience in the life sciences industry. Throughout his career, he has been instrumental in building and sustaining high-performing teams, leveraging AI-driven learning, and pioneering transformational leadership programs to enhance strategy execution and patient outcomes. His expertise spans field-based medical affairs, key opinion leader strategy, product launch, and clinical trial diversity, with a strong focus on advancing health equity in the medical field.
With nearly two decades at GSK, George has held various leadership positions, most recently serving as medical excellence director. In this role, he designed and deployed AI-enabled learning programs for over 200 field medical leaders and MSLs, optimizing strategic insight generation and driving enterprise-wide planning across multiple therapy areas. His innovative contributions earned him GSK’s Ahead Together Award (Top 10%), recognizing his outstanding impact on capability building and leadership development.
Prior to this, George served as medical science liaison director, where he successfully hired, developed, and led top-performing MSL teams through significant organizational changes. Under his leadership, his teams consistently achieved over 100% performance targets, earning him the Outstanding Performance Award for excellence in MSL team development. Additionally, he played a critical role in launching strategic partnerships for rare disease treatments, achieving 100% of launch expectations and surpassing engagement goals with federal health plans.
Earlier in his tenure at GSK, George held the role of district sales manager, where he implemented district-wide strategic and cultural shifts, propelling his region’s sales performance from last place to top 10 nationally out of 60 districts. His leadership in embedding the SPIN selling model across 60+ sales managers nationwide was a defining moment in his career, positioning GSK for long-term success in customer engagement and commercial execution.
As a senior medical science liaison, George worked closely with key opinion leaders and population-based health entities to integrate scientific insights into strategic planning for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and osteoporosis. His ability to synthesize complex medical data into actionable strategies significantly improved engagement with healthcare professionals and contributed to the development of key commercial and medical initiatives.
Beyond his corporate roles, George is deeply committed to health equity and clinical trial diversity. His leadership in this space has influenced the way organizations approach patient-centric care, ensuring that underrepresented populations receive the attention and access they deserve in the clinical research landscape. His dedication to fostering cross-functional collaboration has made him a sought-after expert in shaping enterprise-wide medical strategies that align with both scientific innovation and patient needs.
In addition to his corporate experience, George has served on multiple boards, including an unpaid board position and a past role on the board of Ayuda Health, a digital health startup. His board experience has further expanded his perspective on governance, strategy, and the impact of emerging technologies in healthcare. He is currently seeking additional board opportunities to extend his expertise beyond his current industry and contribute to organizations dedicated to improving patient outcomes and medical innovation.
George’s career is distinguished by his ability to bridge the gap between science and strategy, bringing a unique perspective to leadership in medical affairs. His strength in leveraging AI, strategic planning, and leadership development has made him a key player in the evolution of pharmaceutical and biotech organizations. His passion for mentorship, organizational transformation, and scientific exchange continues to drive his impact in the healthcare sector.
Outside of work, George enjoys community service and playing Top Golf, reflecting his values of teamwork, engagement, and continuous improvement. He believes that leadership is about expanding influence, stepping outside of comfort zones, and providing expertise where it is needed most. His next chapter will focus on bringing his vast experience and innovative mindset to new board roles, where he can help organizations navigate the complexities of modern healthcare and medical affairs.
Character:
George is a values-driven leader who prioritizes integrity, mentorship, and ethical decision-making in all aspects of his work. He consistently fosters high-performing teams, cultivates trust, and champions initiatives that align with his core belief in responsible leadership.
Knowledge:
With 22 years of experience in medical affairs and pharmaceutical sales, George possesses deep expertise in AI-driven learning, clinical trial diversity, product launches, and health equity. His ability to translate scientific insights into strategic action has made him a valuable asset in shaping the future of healthcare innovation.
Strategic:
George excels at bridging science and strategy, leveraging his expertise to optimize insight generation, enhance medical excellence, and implement enterprise-wide transformational leadership programs. His forward-thinking approach ensures that organizations remain adaptive and competitive in an ever-evolving industry.
Communication:
A skilled communicator, George effectively engages stakeholders, leads scientific exchanges, and develops leaders to drive both medical and commercial success. His ability to articulate complex scientific concepts into actionable strategies has strengthened partnerships and enhanced decision-making across diverse teams.
