Nigel Salomon has informed the Board of his intention to step down as Chief Executive of the British Friends of Hebrew University during 2027.
Nigel Salomon said:
Having had the privilege of leading the British Friends of the Hebrew University for 18 years, I have decided that now is the right time for a new Chief Executive to bring fresh ideas and energy to the role as the organisation celebrates its 100th anniversary.
Leading this organisation and being connected to the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel’s foremost centre of advanced learning and research, has been a dream come true for me. I have met so many wonderful people in my time as Chief Executive and I have made many friends along the way; faculty members, students, donors, trustees, alumni and Friends of the Hebrew University from around the world – the list is long. I hope to be able to maintain these relationships and to continue to contribute to the ongoing development of the Hebrew University for many years.
Providing an extended period of notice should enable the Board to plan for an orderly transition and handover. Until such time as a successor is found, I remain fully committed and will show the same level of passion and energy in support of our Trustees, my team and the Hebrew University, connecting our donors, supporters and partners to the amazing work of the University as it continues its commitment to discoveries and breakthroughs for the benefit of all citizens of Israel and beyond.
This is not yet goodbye, but I would like to add a special thank you to our British Friends community, many multigenerational family donors and foundations, who continue to display such generosity and support for the mission of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Chair, Alan Jacobs, commented,
Nigel’s polished and professional leadership over the last 18 years has shaped the British Friends into a stable, strong and effective donor-focused organisation with a clear mission and values. He has brought a wealth of talent and expertise to the role and has built deep, lasting relationships with our key stakeholders within the Hebrew University family and beyond. We will greatly miss his leadership.
Nigel’s energy, creativity, passion and commitment, alongside the professional team which he leads, has enabled our organisation to deepen the impact of our charitable purposes: to support all aspects of the Hebrew University, to promote its achievements, to help progress academic ties with the UK and to fund student exchange programmes. Our Board of Trustees is immensely grateful for his unstinting work, and I am personally very grateful indeed for the support he has given me as Chair and the partnership bond we have formed.
Business will continue as usual as we start the search for a CEO successor and I know that Nigel will offer every support in the handover. I hope that we will continue to benefit from his experience and knowledge for a long time yet.