As GlaxoSmithKline’s Chinese corporate governance disaster began to slowly unfold last year, the British pharmaceuticals company turned to a private detective to investigate the source of its woes.
From an anonymous email “smear campaign” alleging corruption to a hidden camera planted in its country manager’s bedroom, GSK suspected a former employee was waging a vendetta against the company.
Chinese police allege the problem was far more deep-rooted. Earlier this year, they accused dozens of GSK employees including Mark Reilly, its former China head, of overseeing fraudulent practices that funnelled bribes worth billions of dollars to doctors and officials around the country.