The University of Manchester has appointed former Shelter, Amnesty International, and Al Jazeera communications leader, Osama Bhutta, to be the new Executive Director of Communications, Marketing and Student Recruitment.
Osama, who will take up the role on 6 January, brings proven communications and external affairs experience from a range of sectors and organisations.
Until July 2024, Osama was Director of Communications, Policy and Campaigns at housing charity Shelter, which he joined in 2021. In this role he embedded a new brand for the organisation and campaigned for more social housing. During his time in the role the charity saw two new laws being passed, a third being entered into parliament, and social housing went from a barely mentioned topic to a high-profile political issue.
As Global Director of Marketing and Communications at Amnesty International, Osama secured human rights win for campaigns all over the world. He united the charity behind a more engaging strategy which led to significant growth in supporter numbers and media reach.
And at Al Jazeera, as well as increasing the channel’s reach and influence in major markets such as the US and liaising with international politicians, his campaigning work secured release of journalists from jail in Egypt, Iran, Libya and Nigeria.
He studied in his city of birth at the University of Glasgow and has won numerous awards including at the Cannes Lions.
Duncan Ivison, President and Vice-Chancellor, said: “This is a critical time for our University as we seek to improve our global reputation, demonstrate our value to policy makers and engage with our students, staff, and partners in new ways. Osama has a strong background in building reputation and brand across multiple sectors and will be a real asset to us as we seek to achieve our strategic objectives.”
Patrick Hackett, Registrar, Secretary and Chief Operating Officer, said: “It’s great to be able to welcome Osama to our University, in an extremely important role. He’s worked across a number of sectors and had success in all of them. Our communications, marketing and student recruitment colleagues are critical to the success of our University and Osama’s leadership will enhance our work in this area.
Osama added, “There are some who think the world has had enough of research, knowledge and expertise. These values are in fact the basis of the human ingenuity which has given us our remarkable civilisation and which will tackle humanity’s multiple crises to create a better future.
“We must make a compelling case for Manchester and higher education in the coming period to help tackle the numerous sector-wide headwinds we face. Comms and marketing are strategic functions and I love the challenge of us all playing our full part in getting us through these difficulties.
“What attracted me most to this role though was the prospect of working with the Manchester community – staff, students and alumni. We are a function of the people we spend the most time with and I can’t imagine more elevated company. There’s a real dynamism in the wider city too and I can’t wait to see what we do together.”
