Omar El Muhanna

Omar El Muhanna is the recipient of the King Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein Order for Distinction, one of Jordan’s highest civilian honours, awarded by His Majesty King Abdullah II in recognition of his leadership in global health and contributions to the field of biomanufacturing. Read more →

Omar is a senior executive with a proven track record of delivering long-term value across complex international operations, healthcare systems, and strategic business management. He is widely recognised for his leadership role in the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine emergency response, where his operational expertise was instrumental to its global rollout. He is also a named contributor to the intellectual property licensed by Oxford University Innovation to AstraZeneca.

His career spans global health, humanitarian relief, crisis response, and international development. Omar was a key architect of the first informal cross-border operation of humanitarian assistance into Syria and led critical merger and restructuring processes for organisations with over 500 staff and annual budgets exceeding $80 million. His leadership had a significant impact in some of the world’s most volatile and resource-constrained environments.

As a growth and impact-driven strategist, Omar has developed profit and non-profit business models, managed diverse funding sources, and ensured compliance with complex regulations. His innovative leadership has driven revenue growth and operational efficiency, with a particular focus on organically funded income-generating operations and grant-funded initiatives. Omar's proficiency in problem-solving, data analytics, and critical thinking has enabled him to lead high-performance teams and foster positive work cultures that deliver tangible results.

Building on the vaccine's success, Omar has established strategic networks and partnerships within the industry to expand reach, accelerate growth, and diversify customer portfolios and revenue streams. Currently, he plays a significant role in leading the strategic and operational aspects of substantial capital projects designed to accommodate a 200% increase in business capacity. Beyond his humanitarian work, Omar has supported and collaborated with global organisations, driving their growth and success.

Omar currently leads the operations at Oxford University's Clinical Biomanufacturing. He collaborates with the Head of the CBF and the University’s Senior Leadership to develop and implement strategies, identify key objectives, and assess risks and opportunities. His role includes advising on the practicability of strategic directions. He also serves on the oversight committee of the Oxford Centre for Advanced Cell Therapy (OxACT) and provides strategic leadership to the Oxford VaxHub programme, as well as multiple global partnership initiatives.

In recognition of his contributions, Omar was among the recipients of the 2022 Copley Medal, awarded to the Oxford-AstraZeneca Vaccine Team by the Royal Society, the Society’s oldest and most prestigious prize. Alongside his team, he was also a recipient of several other prestigious accolades, 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
• The 2020 NHS Parliamentary Awards: Excellence in Healthcare

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 - Executive MBA, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, IL, USA
• Master's Degree - MSc in Biotech and Pharmaceutical Management, UCL Global Business School for Health, London, UK
• BSc. in Mechatronics Engineering, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan