Name Surname: Benny (Benjamin) Gaon
Parents’ Names: Moshe David Gaon, Sara Hakim Gaon
Date and place of Birth: 1935, Jerusalem
Date passed away: 2008
Education: Studied Business Administration in Geneva, Switzerland
Profession: Manager, Industrialist, Businessman
CV:
Benny Gaon was born to a father of Jerusalem origin for many generations and a mother born in Izmir, Turkey.
After his marriage to Rahel, his wife, they lived in Petah Tikva, Batyam and Ramat Hasharon, respectively.
His rich business career started as the electrician of a music group, (in which his brother Yehoram was the singer), and later on as service manager in “Electra”.
Benny Gaon has played pivotal roles in the management and restructuring of many public and private companies including Koor Industries, (where he served as Managing Director and Chairman for a decade), Electra, Hamashbir Letsarhan, Tadiran, Haribua Akahol and Ikea Israel. Gaon is remembered as the manager who prevented the collapse of “Koor Industries” first and foremost, something that looked like ‘mission impossible’ at the time.
In 1998 he founded his own company,”Gaon Holdings”, which operated in three different sectors, agro industry, wholesaling, and financial services. In 2007 the holding added real estate to its portfolio. The company was quoted in the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange and was worth 64 million dollars at his death.
Though he did not officially enter politics, he was an activist who did not shy to express his opinion, (sometimes controversial) on various public and state affairs.
He tried to contribute to the peace process between Israel and the Palestinian Authorities.
Both in the boks he authored and also in his business life he has emphasized the importance of the social duties of a manager besides his managerial duties for the success of the company.
He proudly preserved the Spharadic tradition in his family life.
Works, publications:
Only the brave succeed, 1997
The Second Book, Heshbon Nefesh in Management, 2006
Gaon, one or two things about management and also about life, 2008
İnstitutions established, supported: He has chaired the Israel Cancer Association.(ironically he died of cancer)
He has also chaired the American Israel Friendship Association.
Chairman of the Israel – Jordan Chamber of Commerce
Founder and Chairman of the “Moshe David Gaon Center for the Ladino Culture” in Ben Gurion University
Board Member in Hebrew University, Jerusalem and also Tel Aviv University
He has been awarded several prizes for his contribution to the Israeli Industry as well as his philantropic activities, among them “President’s Award by the Israel Industrialists Association” and also “Jerusalem Protector” award by the Prime Minister and Jerusalem Mayor.
He also received the Romansario Economy Award from Tel Aviv University and the International Cooperation Award from Israel – California Chamber of Commerce.
Outstanding and Permanent contribution /reasons for nomination:
Benny Gaon has made a significant contribution to the development of the industry and business in Israel. In addition he has been a prominent philantropist working for the betterment of the Israeli society making use of his remarkable human sensitivity.
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