Charles O'donnell
About Charles O'donnell
Charles O'Donnell serves as the Vice President and Head of Portfolio Management at Exscientia, leveraging over 20 years of experience in drug discovery and clinical development. His previous roles at AstraZeneca included various leadership positions, where he specialized in strategic outsourcing, alliance management, and drug design.
Work at Exscientia
Charles O'Donnell has been serving as Vice President and Head of Portfolio Management at Exscientia since 2021. In this role, he oversees portfolio management strategies and initiatives, contributing to the company's focus on drug discovery and development. His position is based in Oxford, England, where he leads efforts to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of drug development processes.
Previous Experience at AstraZeneca
Prior to joining Exscientia, Charles O'Donnell held several key positions at AstraZeneca. He worked as Head of Drug Safety and Metabolism Externalisation from 2012 to 2014, followed by roles as Alliance Management Director and Early Clinical Development Portfolio Director from 2014 to 2019. His last position at AstraZeneca was Director of Clinical Testing, Precision Medicine and Research Procurement from 2019 to 2021. Throughout his tenure, he focused on strategic outsourcing, alliance management, and global strategy implementation.
Education and Expertise
Charles O'Donnell earned his PhD in Drug Metabolism from the University of Liverpool, where he studied from 1999 to 2002. He also holds a BSc (Hons) in Pharmacology from the same institution, completed from 1996 to 1999. His educational background supports his expertise in drug design, screening cascade management, and physical chemistry, which are critical in his roles within the pharmaceutical industry.
Background in Pharmaceutical Industry
With over 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical sector, Charles O'Donnell has worked in both large pharmaceutical companies and pharmatech organizations. His career includes significant roles in drug discovery, clinical development, and procurement processes across the drug delivery pipeline. He has a proven track record of managing teams and contributing to successful project outcomes.
Leadership and Management Skills
Charles O'Donnell has demonstrated strong leadership capabilities throughout his career. He has managed both line and matrix teams of scientists and professionals, focusing on continuous improvement and effective project delivery. His experience in corporate governance and strategic initiatives has positioned him as a key contributor to the organizations he has been part of.