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Partner in Ampa Group, Group Chairman and CEO. Has extensive knowledge and experience in setting up companies, as well as managing and executing large-scale international projects. Co-Owner and Chairman of Israel Shipyards Industries, Co- Owner and Chairman of the Gold Bond Group.
In 1995, I flew to the United States to visit my brother, who was then working as a banker, to interest him in raising capital for the acquisition of Ampa. The group needed a change in its business model, and I recognized an opportunity to invest and develop financing solutions for consumers. I offered my attorney at the time, Shuki Wolf, as well as my friend Tuli Ceder, a longtime real estate professional, to join me – and so they became my partners. The process took a long time – three years – and finally, in 1998, the negotiations ended and we acquired the group.
During my days as a mechanical engineering student, I specialized in air conditioning, and as part of my thesis, I designed a restaurant air conditioning system at Dizengoff Center. Later I went into the restaurant to examine my work, and when I asked the waitress about the air conditioning, she answered that “Someone has designed an air conditioner here that freezes us. We hate it…” Then I realized that maybe I should look for a career not related to air conditioners…
Ampa is a pioneer in real estate innovation. This is reflected in our ability to develop new products and businesses, such as the Selina and WeWork or the energy sector; the ability to integrate new technologies and business models; and importantly – the ability to see what contributes to our country. We in Ampa believe that innovation is a must and not a luxury: a company that will not know how to optimize and innovate will not be able to move forward and succeed.
In 2016 we decided to invest in an entirely new field: agriculture. We grow blueberries on the Golan Heights, an unfamiliar world to us, and it is certainly a refreshing and unique experience for everyone. It is an exciting project: it involves growth, literally, of a new product, and it contributes to attaching people to the land and to the country.
Our significant achievement is that we were able to take on an organization that was in a very complex business situation – on the verge of bankruptcy – to save it, and even make it a successful and large business. We reinvented Ampa and made it a prosperous and influential group for the entire Israeli economy.
Another achievement is the success of the ‘social experiment’ that we have made: we have assembled, some friends, for the benefit of the business, we have become partners – and we have not only succeeded in generating value from this collaborative work, but also in staying friends. To make such a big change in an organization, one has to work with people and contribute to each other – and we, to my delight, have succeeded.
I like doing business. Some people enjoy collecting stamps – I really love doing business.
