Management
All members of Leket Israel’s management can be contacted at [email protected].
Gidi Kroch
CEO
Gidi has served as CEO of Leket Israel since 2009.
He played a vital role in establishing Leket Israel after the merger of Israel’s two leading non-profit food organizations “Table to Table” and “Leket Food Bank” to form one leading institution. Gidi is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of Leket Israel and for reporting to the board. During Gidi’s tenure, Leket Israel has grown to become the largest food rescue organization in Israel and was recognized as the Israeli representative of the Global FoodBanking Network (GFN).
Prior to serving as Leket Israel’s CEO, Gidi served in senior management positions for logistics and high-tech companies in the United States.
He is a graduate of Ben Gurion University in Beer Sheva with a degree in industrial engineering and also holds an MBA.
Gidi is married to Naomi and has three children.
Maya Azoulay
Director of Resource Development in Israel
While serving as the Director of Communications for the Ministry of Defense at the Israeli Mission to the US in New York, Maya received her Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing Advertising and Communications from FIT. Upon her return to Israel, she continued her studies and received her Master’s Degree in Organizational Consulting. After completing her Master’s Degree, she earned a senior management position in sales and marketing in a leading communications company in the Israeli high tech sector.
Maya joined Leket Israel in 2015 as Director of Resource Development in Israel and is responsible for constructing a money raising strategy and its implementation in Israel.
In parallel to her work at Leket, Maya continued her studies and completed certification in Mediation from Gome and in Strategic Consulting from the Technion.
Irit Davidovitch, Ph.D.
COO
Irit earned her Ph.D. in physics and education from the University of Haifa where she also lectured in addition to the Oranim Academic College of Education. After receiving her Ph.D., she served as a turnaround CEO for various metal manufacturing companies.
In 2017, Irit transitioned to the management of non-profit organizations and joined Leket Israel as COO with the goal of improving operational efficiencies, leveraging her significant experience in the management of large operations.
Irit is married and has five children.
Adv. Ravit Dinmez Yehezkel
Legal Counsel and Director of Governmental Affairs
Ravit earned BA and MA degrees in law from Tel Aviv University in addition to an EMBA from Bar Ilan University. She has been a member of the Israeli bar since 2003. Ravit interned for the Attorney General of Israel (Tel Aviv office) following which she worked as a lawyer in the Ministry of Defense and as a senior advisor to the general manager of the Ministry of Environmental Protection. Prior to joining Leket Israel in 2018, Ravit was an associate with the Amit, Pollak, Matalon & Co. law firm.
Ravit is responsible for managing Leket Israel’s legal affairs and its strategic initiatives with the Knesset and various governmental offices. In this position, she draws on her wide-ranging legal background and her extensive experience in legislative matters.
Ravit is married to Lior and they have three children.
Deena Fiedler
Director of PR and Resource Development
As Leket Israel’s Director of PR and Resource Development, Deena is responsible for fundraising in Europe and the Midwest region of the US. She manages all English marketing and public relations activities as well as the overseas development staff at Leket’s Ra’anana offices.
Deena has been on staff for more than ten years but initially got involved with the organization as a volunteer – she has been incredibly passionate about the cause from day one. She earned a BA in history from Stern College and an MA in art history from Hunter College.
A native New Yorker, Deena lives with her husband and four children in Ra’anana since her Aliyah in 2003.
Anat Friedman-Coles
VP Marketing and Israel Fundraising
Anat joined Leket Israel in 2012 after serving in various sales and marketing positions with global high-tech companies and as Head of Marketing and Communications for Keren Hayesod.
She transitioned to the world of non-profit organizations with the hope of contributing her significant experience in marketing, strategic processes and management gained during her career in the business sector.
Anat earned an MA degree in communications and marketing from the Netanya Academic college and holds a BA from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.
She is married to Marc and is the proud mother of three children.
Ezra Haim
CFO
Ezra is a CPA (Israel) and earned an MBA from the College of Management Academic Studies. He has over 23 years of professional experience.
Ezra joined Leket Israel in 2019 following a professional career that has included positions with Ernst & Young, CFO for Akim Israel, Games & Sports Ltd. and the Israel Tennis Center. During his career, Ezra has also served on boards of directors and has taken an active role in determining the strategic directions of the organizations for which he has worked.
In his position as CFO of Leket Israel, Ezra is also responsible for IT and purchasing.
Ezra is married and the father of three children.
Smadar Hod-Ovadia
Director of Nutrition and Food Safety
Smadar Hod-Ovadia is a registered nutritionist with 20 years’ experience in her field.
Prior to joining Leket Israel, Smadar worked as a senior dietitian – weight management specialist at Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust in London and was responsible for developing weight management services. She has extensive experience in group facilitation, clinical nutritional counselling and education and has a proven track record of successfully promoting healthy eating habits.
As Director of Nutrition and Food Safety at Leket Israel, Smadar is responsible to ensure that all of Leket Israel’s programs and activities incorporate sound nutrition, food safety and meet the highest professional standards.
Smadar is married and has three children.
Shelly Karmona
Head of Human Resources
Shelly has worked in the field of human resources for the past 15 years. She began her professional career at YES cable network before moving to Strauss Water where she worked for ten years as the head of human resources in various corporate divisions.
Shelly joined Leket Israel in 2017 and brings to her position a wealth of professional experience in different business verticals. She earned a bachelor’s degree in social work from Tel Aviv University and an MBA with a specialization in human resources from the College of Management Academic Studies.
Shelly is married and the mother of three children.
Paul Leiba
VP Resource Development
Paul made Aliyah from Australia in 1983 after completing degrees in Commerce and Social Work at the University of Melbourne.
Paul joined Leket Israel in August 2003 after working for many years in the welfare field and six years as an apple grower in the Golan Heights. Since joining Leket Israel, Paul has served in various management positions related to fundraising for the organization.
He is married to Hagit, has three children and still dreams of playing cricket for Australia.
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