Oxford Nanopore's New CEO Signals Shift from Vision to Global Scale

OXFORD, England – December 08, 2025

In a move signaling a pivotal transition from foundational innovation to aggressive global commercialization, Oxford Nanopore Technologies has announced the appointment of Francis Van Parys as its next Chief Executive Officer. The decision marks the end of a remarkable 20-year era under co-founder Gordon Sanghera and strategically positions the genomics pioneer for a new chapter focused on operational scale and market penetration.

Van Parys, an industry veteran with a formidable track record of scaling multi-billion-dollar life science businesses, will assume the role on March 2, 2026. The handover is not just a change in leadership; it is a calculated pivot for a company that has successfully translated a revolutionary academic concept into a disruptive force in DNA and RNA sequencing. For investors, competitors, and the scientific community, the message is clear: Oxford Nanopore is preparing to move from changing the rules of the game to dominating the field it helped create.

The End of a Founding Era

To understand the significance of this transition, one must appreciate the legacy of Gordon Sanghera. Since co-founding the company as a spinout from the University of Oxford in 2005, Sanghera has been the driving force behind its mission to “enable the analysis of anything, by anyone, anywhere.” He presided over the transformation of nanopore sequencing from a theoretical possibility into a tangible, powerful platform.

Under his leadership, Oxford Nanopore developed and commercialized a new generation of sensing technology capable of real-time, scalable, and portable analysis of DNA and RNA. This breakthrough has unlocked unprecedented capabilities, from ultra-long reads that provide a more complete picture of complex genomes to pocket-sized sequencers used in remote field locations for infectious disease surveillance. The technology is now utilized in over 125 countries, impacting fields as diverse as human genetics, cancer research, agriculture, and environmental science.

The succession has been meticulously planned, with Sanghera remaining in an advisory capacity until early 2027 to ensure a smooth handover. In a statement, he noted that leading the company was an “extraordinary privilege” and expressed confidence in his successor. This carefully orchestrated transition is typical of mature, high-growth technology companies as they evolve beyond the initial phase of pure invention and face the distinct challenges of global expansion and profitability.

A New Playbook for Global Scale

The choice of Francis Van Parys is a masterstroke in strategic recruitment. He is not a founder-innovator but a seasoned commercial architect, precisely the profile needed to build a global enterprise on Oxford Nanopore’s strong technical foundation. His career is defined by driving growth and operational excellence within large, complex life science organizations.

As the recent President and CEO of Radiometer, a global leader in acute care diagnostics and part of the highly regarded Danaher Corporation, Van Parys was focused on workflow integration, digital innovation, and global expansion. His tenure at Danaher, a conglomerate famous for its rigorous approach to operational efficiency, suggests he will bring a disciplined focus on execution and margin improvement. This experience is particularly relevant as Oxford Nanopore targets adjusted EBITDA breakeven by 2027.

Previously, Van Parys held senior roles at Cytiva and GE Healthcare, where he managed commercial operations across diverse global markets, including the challenging Asia-Pacific region. His expertise in navigating complex regulatory landscapes and building localized commercial capabilities will be invaluable. As Duncan Tatton-Brown, Chair of Oxford Nanopore, remarked, “his global life sciences leadership and deep regulatory expertise, combined with a proven ability to scale innovation-driven businesses make him a strong fit for the next phase of growth.”

From Innovation Engine to Commercial Powerhouse

The timing of this leadership change is critical. Oxford Nanopore is no longer a speculative startup; it is a high-growth company with proven market traction. The company’s recent performance underscores its readiness for this next phase. In the first half of 2025, revenue surged over 25% to £105.6 million, with strong, broad-based growth across all customer segments and geographies. The flagship PromethION product line, a key driver of this success, saw revenue jump nearly 60%.

With gross margins improving and a strong balance sheet holding over £337 million in cash, the company has the financial firepower to support a major commercial push. The market opportunity ahead is vast. The nanopore sequencing market, valued at around $343 million in 2024, is projected to explode to nearly $2 billion by 2034, fueled by falling costs and expanding applications in clinical diagnostics and personalized medicine.

Van Parys is stepping in not to fix a broken company, but to capitalize on this immense potential. His mandate will be to translate Oxford Nanopore’s technological leadership into dominant market share. This involves optimizing the commercial engine, streamlining the supply chain, and ensuring the company's groundbreaking products can be manufactured and delivered at the scale the global market demands.

The Strategic Shift: What to Expect Next

Under Van Parys's leadership, observers should anticipate a strategic evolution focused on three key areas: accelerated commercialization, enhanced operational execution, and deeper penetration into high-value clinical markets. His background in diagnostics strongly suggests a concerted push to move nanopore sequencing from the research bench to routine clinical use, a transition that requires navigating stringent regulatory pathways and establishing robust quality systems.

Expect to see an intensification of commercial strategies, with a focus on building out sales and support infrastructure in key growth regions like North America and Asia Pacific. The company may also pursue more strategic partnerships, similar to its existing collaboration with Cepheid, to embed its technology into established clinical workflows. Internally, Van Parys will likely implement disciplined operational processes to improve efficiency, manage costs, and scale production, ensuring the company can meet soaring demand without compromising quality.

This transition does not signal an end to innovation at Oxford Nanopore. Rather, it represents the next logical step in its corporate lifecycle. By bringing in a leader with a playbook for building global commercial machines, the company is ensuring that Gordon Sanghera’s two-decade-long vision will achieve its ultimate potential, delivering profound value not only to shareholders but to science and society at large.