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Omar El Muhanna

Executive-MBA, MSc. Biotech and Pharma, BSc. Engineering


Senior Operations and Strategy Executive

Omar is a senior executive with a proven track record of creating long-term value in complex international operations and business management. He is best known for his successful handling of the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine emergency response operation, which involved the biomanufacturing and global distribution to clinical trials. His expertise in complex operations was pivotal to this effort, and he is a recognised contributor to the Intellectual Property (IP) licensed by Oxford University Innovation to AstraZeneca. 

Omar has extensive experience in the international affairs, healthcare, and humanitarian aid industry. In previous roles, he played a major part in initiating, designing, and implementing the first Informal Cross-Border humanitarian assistance operation into Syria during extremely challenging circumstances. He has also led an over 500 staff organisation merger and over $80 million budget.

As a growth and impact-driven strategist and corporate finance expert, Omar has developed profit and non-profit business models, controlled diverse sources of funds, compliance requirements, organically-funded income-generating and grant-funded operations. He is a multilinguist with an Executive-MBA degree from the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University. His heightened problem-solving, data analytics, and critical thinking skills have enabled him to lead innovative processes and optimise high-performance teams with diverse positive work cultures for the successful delivery of revenue growth and cost reductions.

Omar leveraged the vaccine's success by establishing strategic networking and partnerships with the industry to expand reach for accelerated growth and diversifying customer portfolios and revenue streams. Currently, he is playing a major role in leading a substantial budget capital projects to accommodate an additional 200% growth in business capacity. In addition to his humanitarian work, Omar has supported and collaborated with organisations globally in a consultant capacity, attaining multiple winning deals, reducing costs, and expanding regionally.

Omar is currently heading the operations at the University of Oxford's clinical biomanufacturing, handling the general and people's management and collaborating with the Head of the Clinical Biomanufacturing Facility and the University’s Senior Leadership in developing and implementing the business strategy, identifying objectives, opportunities, risks, and priorities, and advising on the practicability of proposed strategic directions.

As recognition for his efforts, Omar is one of the recipients of the Copley Medal 2022, awarded to the Oxford-AstraZeneca Vaccine Team by the Royal Society, the Society's oldest and most prestigious prize. In addition to this, the team was awarded many other awards and prizes, including The GQ Men of the Year 2021: Heroes of the Year Award; The Pride of Britain 2021: Special Recognition Award; The Queen’s Anniversary Prize 2022; and the 2020 NHS Parliamentary Awards: The Excellence in Healthcare Award.

Omar was also featured in the best seller "Vaxxers: The Inside Story of the Oxford AstraZeneca Vaccine", recognising his pivotal role in the historic vaccine development effort.

Education:

Master's Degree (International Executive MBA) from The Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, IL, USA

Master's Degree (Biotech and Pharmaceutical Management MSc.) from the Global Business School for Health at UCL, London, UK

BSc. Degree in Mechatronics Engineering from the University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan