Finance Minister Israel Katz announced today (Tuesday) that he has decided to appoint Oded Shamir to the position of director general of the Ministry of Finance. As you may recall, about three months ago, the Turner Foundation, the former CEO of the ministry, resigned amid disagreements with Katz. Turner resigned to one who also held the position of Accountant General in the Treasury, Shaul Meridor, resigned.
Shamir has previously served in a number of senior positions in the government and the business sector – among others, as the director of the investment center at the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor and as the military secretary to the defense minister. In addition, in the business sector, Shamir served as CEO of many public companies, including Industrial Buildings, Regional Assets, Aspen and Jerusalem Economics. Netivei Israel for the past 6 years. Shamir currently serves as a director in various public companies.
Oded Shamir, 65, is married and has two children, and holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and sociology from Bar-Ilan University. His appointment is still conditional on approval by the State Commission. In addition to the state commission, the government must also approve his appointment. Given the wide difficulty she has been experiencing recently in appointing executives, it may take some time before Shamir takes up his new position.