Arison says will keep contol of Hapoalim
Richest woman in Israel says plans to continue being controlling shareholder in country's second-largest bank, but may bring in partner later on
"I plan on continuing to be controlling shareholder," Arison said in an interview with Reuters ahead of Tuesday's US and Canada launch of her book "Birth - When the Spiritual and the Material Come Together".
"It doesn't mean I won't make certain changes but that I am not changing. Not in the near future."
The US-born Arison, who stirred up controversy in June when she said she received "messages from above", said she would not rule out bringing in a partner but not at the moment.
Arison holds a controlling 20% stake in Hapoalim. Some 68.5% is traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange.
The Bank of Israel this year forced out the bank's chairman, Dan Dankner, over differences of opinion that led Hapoalim's chief executive officer to resign.
Hapoalim now has a new CEO, Zion Kenan, and a new chairman, Yair Seroussi.
"Everything has been resolved. Everything is quiet," Arison said. "We have a new CEO and new chairman and I am happy. They are doing a wonderful job."
Arison said it was her aim for Hapoalim to become Israel's top bank again.
"We are looking to the future and it's full steam ahead," she said.
Arison and her brother inherited billions of dollars from her late father Ted Arison, who founded Carnival Corp , the world's biggest cruise ship operator.
