Businessman Benny Gaon, 73, a prominent figure in the Israeli economy and controlling shareholder of B. Gaon Holdings, died late Saturday at the Sourasky Medical Center in Tel Aviv, after having arrived there in serious condition.
Gaon managed leading Israeli companies during his illustrious career. Her served as president and CEO of Koor Industries, as well as chairman of Hamashbir Lazarchan, Tadiran, Blue Square Israel, and IKEA Israel.
Gaon served as president of The Israel Cancer Association, and unfortunately died of the illness. Gaon’s cancer attacked twice before taking the upper hand and he was among Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s supporters when the latter discovered he had prostate cancer.
“Gaon was a patriot, an entrepreneur, a prodigal businessman and a man of extraordinary social awareness,” said the prime minister. “I have known him for 30 years and frequently consulted him. We kept in close contact almost until the end. He will be a missed persona in Israel’s public arena.”
B. Gaon Holdings was founded in 1998, and operates in three main areas of activity – Gaon-Agro Industries, retail trade and financial trading and services. In August 2007, the company expanded into a fourth area – real estate. The company trades at the TASE and its market value is estimated at $64 million.
A Man of Conscience
Gaon will always be remembered as the CEO who prevented Koor Industries from being dismantled by the company’s American creditor bank in 1988, by reaching a debt payment agreement with the Israeli banks, which were also partial creditors of the company.Gaon also functioned as Chairman of the American Israel Friendship League (AIFL.), and won numerous awards for his extensive work in the Israeli economy; he won the President’s Award on behalf of the Manufacturers’ Association of Israel and the Jerusalem Shield on behalf of the prime minister, Jerusalem’s mayor and the International Forum for United Jerusalem.
Gaon with Peretz (Photo: Niv Calderon)
Gaon dared to tackle matters beyond his private businesses, considered entering politics and pointed out more than once the weak points of Israel’s economy and government. As such, he objected to the appeal made to outside sources for IDF donations, claiming this gave the IDF the undesirable image of a public kitchen.
He also expressed his concern about the disassociation between the business sector with its global market orientation, and Israel’s socio-political state. After the Second Lebanon War, Gaon called for a proper compensation of the reserve soldiers by the business sector and the government.
“I mourn his passing,” said former Defense Minister Amir Peretz, who was close to Gaon. “We have lost a titan today, one of Israel’s builders and a symbol of unprecedented activity, breaking all barriers and fields. He believed in man’s value and in true friendship above all. His path and memory will always accompany me.”
Gil Kol and Navit Zomer contributed to this report