Omar Ishrak is Executive Chairman of Medtronic and Chairman of the Board of Directors. He assumed the newly created role of Executive Chairman in April 2020, following his retirement as Chief Executive Officer of Medtronic, a position he had held since June 2011.
Medtronic is the world’s leading medical technology company, with $30.6 billion in annual revenue, 90,000 employees and operations reaching more than 150 countries worldwide. Medtronic offers technologies and solutions to treat a wide range of medical conditions, including cardiac and vascular diseases, respiratory, neurological and spinal conditions, diabetes, and more. The Medtronic Mission is to use technology to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life for millions of people around the world.
As CEO, Omar focused the company around three long-term growth strategies of Therapy Innovation, Globalization, and Economic Value. In addition, Omar engineered the acquisition of Covidien — a $10 billion global manufacturer of surgical products and supplies — the largest medical technology acquisition in the history of the industry. Medtronic is now executing on the strongest technology pipeline in company history, bringing to market a long list of innovations that will improve the lives of even more patients around the world and help healthcare systems become more efficient.
Omar is also passionate about inclusion and diversity. He established Medtronic’s Diversity Networks, and during his tenure the company has been recognized for its commitment to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture. In 2020, Medtronic was awarded the prestigious Catalyst Award, which is given to corporations driving global change by building workplaces that work for women.
In January 2020, Omar was named independent Chairman of the Board of Directors of Intel. Omar has served as a member of the Intel board since March 2017. Intel is a global technology company with $72 billion in annual revenue in FY19. Intel is a leader in the semiconductor industry, shaping the data-centric future with computing and communications technology that is the foundation of the world’s innovations.
Prior to joining Medtronic, Omar was President and CEO of GE Healthcare Systems. He held several other roles at GE during his 16-year tenure, including serving as an Officer and a Senior Vice President. Earlier in his career, Omar amassed 13 years of technology development and business management experience, holding leadership positions at Diasonics/Vingmed, and various product development and engineering positions at Philips Ultrasound.
He grew up in Bangladesh, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of London, King's College. He is also a Fellow of King’s College. He was inducted to the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) College of Fellows in 2016, and was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2020.
Omar is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Asia Society, the leading educational organization dedicated to promoting mutual understanding and strengthening partnerships among peoples, leaders and institutions of Asia and the United States in a global context. He is also a member of the Minnesota Public Radio Board of Trustees.