Sources inform ''Globes'' that former Amdocs Ltd. (NYSE: DOX) president and CEO Dov Baharav is the leading candidate for the next chairman of Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. (IAI) (TASE: ARSP.B1).
Minister of Defense Ehud Barak met with IAI chairman Yair Shamir yesterday and told him that he would not reappoint him for a third term.
The source added that Barahav's name came up in the past few days during the search process for the post that Barak and Minister of Finance Yuval Steinitz are leading. Although other names have been mentioned, the sources believe that Barahav has very high chances of winning the appointment.
Shamir's term expires in under two months. The son of former Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir, he was appointed to the post six years ago by then-Minister of Defense Shaul Mofaz, and was reappointed by Barak three years later. Barak decided a few weeks ago not to reappoint Shamir to another term, and to seek new candidates.
One of the names mentioned was former National Security Advisor Major General (res.) Giora Eiland, but the sources doubt that he has much of a chance.
As a government defense company, the ministers of defense and finance appoint its chairman. Sources close to the matter say that Barak and Steinitz are collaborating on the process, and that it will be completed within days.
The issue of a new chairman has created a stir among IAI's 17,500 employees in recent weeks, in part because of remarks by Shamir, including telling "Defense News" that if he is renominated, the IAI privatization plan would succeed.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on June 2, 2011
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