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World ORT Elects Shmuel Sisso as New Director General and CEO Sisso Looks Forward to Shaping the Future of the Organization
Kiryat Yam Mayor Shmuel Sisso and ORT America Next Gen Mission to Israel participant, Sharon Lavi Following an extensive global search process, World ORT has chosen Shmuel Sisso, Mayor of Kiryat Yam, Israel, as its new Director General and Chief Executive Officer. He will succeed Robert Singer, who left earlier this year, after 14 years leading World ORT, to become CEO of the World Jewish Congress. At last week's ORT America Board meeting, the directors unanimously passed a resolution to welcome Shmuel Sisso with this statement: "As many of us know Shmuel, we can say, without hesitation, that in looking forward to working with him we know that the ancient adage of ‘from strength to strength' has been achieved and that the future is bright." "I am extremely enthusiastic about having a person of Shmuel Sisso's breadth of experience and vision as the Director General of World ORT," added ORT America National President Linda S. Kirschbaum. Shmuel Sisso said, "I am honored and delighted to have been elected to this prestigious position. I have a great passion for World ORT and all that it does, and feel confident I can make a real contribution to the future of the organization, working with its excellent professionals and outstanding lay leaders around the world." Mr. Sisso's involvement with World ORT is extensive, as a member of World ORT's Board of Representatives and a Member of World ORT's Nominations and Allocations Committees. He worked very closely with World ORT in a major regeneration project in Kiryat Yam, helping create the multi-million dollar Alex and Betty Schoenbaum Science, Educational, Cultural and Sports Campus. Fluent in Hebrew, Arabic and English, Mr. Sisso is a law graduate of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and holds a Master's Degree in Administrative Science from Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey. He has also held the position of Israeli Consul-General (holding the rank of Ambassador) in New York. As a qualified lawyer, he has also run his own law firm and spent some years as a partner in a New York firm. Alongside his main responsibilities, Shmuel has held an extraordinary range of past and present roles in contributing to public causes. This includes seven years as Chairman of the Ha'Igud Society for the Transfer of Technology (a foreign ministry institution providing Israeli foreign aid and international cooperation with developing countries) and four years as Vice-President of the Sephardic World Congress. He is a Judge of the World Zionist Movement's Supreme Court and a member of the Board for the Advancement of Post-Elementary Education Association. ORT America Executive Director Alan E. Klugman was enthusiastic about Mr. Sisso's appointment. "We are delighted to have someone of Shmuel Sisso's caliber, skill, and experience as a partner. We look forward to working with him on our common goal of strengthening and advancing the international network of ORT programs. We welcome him into the ORT family." |
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