Kenes Group has named Ori Lahav the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and has implemented a restructuring of the management team that answers to the current needs of the company and the new state of the industry.
Ori Lahav is the third CEO in the history of Kenes Group. The last CEO change was done in 1999 when Dan Rivlin took the role from his father and Founder, Gideon Rivlin. With this, Dan Rivlin takes on the role of Executive Chair and Chief Vision Officer (EC & CVO). With his accumulated experience and expertise, Dan Rivlin will continue to give Kenes Group its time-honoured stability in addition to focusing on aspects such as creativity and impact through the development of new lines of business and Original Events, to name a few.
Ori Lahav has a long-cultivated leadership journey at Kenes Group since he joined the company in 2013 as Associate Vice President Marketing, bringing more than 15 years of marketing experience to the management team. At the beginning of 2017, Ori moved to lead the Client Accounts & Operations as Vice President, while he also joined the IAPCO Council (IAPCO – the International Association of Professional Congress Organisers). In 2020, Ori became President of the association – a role he has passionately fulfilled in the toughest moment of the industry, leading IAPCO to safety during the pandemic.
Dan Rivlin, EC & CVO, commented: “Ori is a natural fit for the CEO position. I expect him to bring his character and personality to this new and demanding role. Both Ori and I see eye to eye on the most underlining issues and we plan to continue to grow the company in the same spirit.”
“I am honoured to count on this trust and recognition from Dan and the rest of the global team. It is an exciting time to be in our industry and I plan to make the most of it for Kenes Group,” added Ori Lahav, CEO.
To strengthen the company’s strategic approach, the management board was expanded in the past few months, aiming to elevate the participation of proven and long-standing Kenes Group leaders and talents. The following new roles were successfully incorporated into the company’s leadership:
- Uzi Drori joins the management team as Chief Information Officer. Uzi joined the company in 2009 and was instrumental in the company’s successful pivot during the pandemic.
- Limor Cunia joins as Vice President Clients & Operations – a direct successor to Ori Lahav’s position. Limor has been in the company since 2006 and has a vast track record with various congress accounts.
- Adi Ingber joined Kenes Group earlier this year as Vice President of Human Resources bringing over 15 years of experience in HR.
- Avital Rosen has taken over as Vice President Business Development, continuing the successful acquisition of new clients. Avital started her journey at Kenes Group in 1991 and has over 200 successful congresses behind her.
- Audrey Alloul has taken the lead of a new department in the company as Vice President Digital, focused on the digital services of Kenes Group. Audrey joined Kenes Group in 2005 and was a key force behind the creation of VirtuOz – the company’s virtual events platform.
- Perry Gil-Ran is now Associate Vice President Client Accounts, supporting Limor in her work with clients. Perry joined Kenes Group in early 2006 and since has managed numerous conferences all over the world.
These changes come as a result of the company’s constant adaptative attitude in facing the many societal shifts that the world continues to experience. As pioneering and innovative leaders of the industry, Kenes Group welcomes this new structure as the beginning of a more flexible, sustainable, and human-centred chapter.
