Glaxo's Viehbacher gets top Sanofi job -source

LONDON, Sept 9 (Reuters) - Chris Viehbacher, GlaxoSmithKline's (GSK.L) head of North American pharmaceuticals, is to take a top job at French drugmaker Sanofi-Aventis (SASY.PA), according to a person familiar with the situation.

His exact role was not immediately clear but he is thought to be a likely replacement for current Sanofi Chief Executive Gerard Le Fur.

A spokesman for Sanofi said on Tuesday he had no information about the move, while Glaxo declined to comment.

Viehbacher -- a widely respected figure in the drugs industry -- lost out to Andrew Witty in the race to lead Glaxo a year ago. Witty took over as CEO in May.

Glaxo, the world's second largest drugmaker, announced on Monday he was standing down from the board with immediate effect and would leave the company on Dec. 1 to pursue another, unspecified opportunity. (Reporting by Ben Hirschler)