EL AL Announces CEO Appointment And CFO Transition
On September 21, the EL AL Board of Directors announced significant leadership changes at the company, marking a new chapter for Israel’s national airline.
Following a thorough and in-depth search process conducted by the board-appointed search committee, the Board has appointed Levy Halevy as Chief Executive Officer of EL AL. Halevy previously served as CEO of CAL (Israel Credit Cards Ltd.) for seven years, during which he led the company to record profitability and positioned it as an industry leader. His career also includes senior roles in the financial and technology sectors, including Head of the Technology Division at the Discount Group, Deputy CEO of Menora Mivtachim, Head of Development at Bank Hapoalim, CEO of Malam Group, and CEO of Consist Systems. His official start date will be announced at a later time.
At the same time, Yaakov (Yancale) Shachar, EL AL’s Chief Financial Officer, has announced his retirement, effective at the end of November 2025. Shachar joined EL AL in 2006 and has played a pivotal role in the company’s financial management and resilience, leading aircraft financing transactions, managing risk and investor relations, and strengthening EL AL’s financial position throughout his nearly two decades with the company.
He will be succeeded by CPA Gil Feldman, currently Deputy CFO and Head of the Economics, Budget, and Business Development Division. Feldman, who joined EL AL in 2020, will assume the role of CFO on December 1, 2025. In recent years, he has overseen the company’s annual budget and business plan, supported management in strategic decision-making, and played a central role in leading EL AL’s COVID-19 recovery plan. Feldman also serves as Chairman of the Board of Borenstein and as a Director at EL AL subsidiaries Tamam and Sundor.
Amikam Ben Zvi, Chairman of the EL AL Board of Directors, commented, “We welcome the appointment of Levy Halevy as CEO of EL AL. Levy brings with him extensive management experience and deep expertise in the financial and technological sectors. I have no doubt that, together with the people of EL AL—our most valuable asset—he will lead the company to new heights.
“On behalf of the board and all EL AL employees, I would also like to thank Dina Ben Tal Ganancia for her tenure as CEO and her significant contributions in recent years.
“Additionally, I wish to express my deepest gratitude to Yancale Shachar for his many years of dedicated service. His leadership and professionalism strengthened EL AL’s financial resilience and positioned the company on firm ground for the future. We are equally confident in Gil Feldman’s ability to continue this legacy, bringing exceptional dedication and professionalism to his new role.”
EL AL was founded in November 1948 as Israel’s national airline and operated its first scheduled flight in 1949. In June 1950, EL AL began service between Tel Aviv and New York. Today EL AL serves 49 international destinations in 33 countries. With over 75 years of experience and 3,485 employees, EL AL offers a unique array of amenities and benefits passengers cannot find anywhere else. EL AL operates 50+ weekly non-stop flights between the U.S. and Israel. Its commitment to continuously improving customer experience has resulted in five consecutive years of 5-star APEX ratings. For more information, visit ElAl.com.
