The appointment is pending approval from the appointments committee, the Defence Ministry, and the Regional Cooperation Minister responsible for government companies

Rafael Advanced Defense Systems has announced the appointment of Yoav Turgeman as its Chief Executive Officer. This decision was taken unanimously by the board of directors, who, based on the recommendation of the search committee. The selection process adhered to the rigorous standards for CEO appointments in government-owned entities.

The appointment is pending approval from the appointments committee, the Minister of Defence, and the Regional Cooperation Minister responsible for government companies.

Yoav Turgeman served in various command and staff roles in the Israeli Navy for 25 years, retiring as a Colonel. Following his military service, he entered the aerospace industry, initially heading the Arrow program and later managing the MLM facility. Since 2018, he has been serving as the CEO of ELTA, an Israeli radar company.

With bachelor’s and master’s degrees with honours in electrical engineering from Tel Aviv University, along with additional degrees from the University of Haifa and Bar Ilan University, Turgeman is well-equipped to lead Rafael, the company said. He will succeed Major General (Ret.) Yoav Har-Even, who served as the CEO for over 8 years. Har-Even has agreed to extend his tenure in response to the board’s request, due to the ongoing “Swords of Iron” war ensuring a smooth transition with the incoming CEO.

Yuval Steinitz, Chairman of the Board at Rafael, commended the decision, expressing confidence that Turgeman possesses the requisite experience, capabilities, and skills to successfully guide Rafael through the challenges and goals ahead. Steinitz also expressed gratitude to Major General Har-Even for his substantial contributions over the years and his current efforts in the “Swords of Iron” war.