Dan Gillerman

Ambassador Dan Gillerman served as Israel’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations from January 2003 – August2008. His appointment marked the first time that Israel nominated someone from the private sector to this post.Under Ambassador Gillerman, Israel saw a number of notable and unprecedented achievements in the realm of internationalpolitics and diplomacy at the United Nations. He was instrumental in passing numerous resolutions in the GeneralAssembly and Security Council, including the first successful Israeli resolutions ever adopted by the United Nations. As atestament to his leadership, his colleagues elected him a Vice President of the General Assembly in 2005, making Ambassador Gillerman the first Israeli representative in 53 years to serve the position, ever since Abba Eban in 1952. During his tenure, Ambassador Gillerman worked closely with UN Secretary-Generals Kofi Annan and Ban Ki-moon, as well as the entire UN membership. He forged close relationships with many world leaders and diplomats, including from Arab and Muslim countries and whose own countries do not have diplomatic relations with Israel, some of whom are even perceived as hostile to it.

Throughout his term, Ambassador Gillerman has been the voice of Israel at the UN and other globalforums. He has become a widely sought after speaker, having addressed Jewish, Christian, and Muslim organizations, charitable foundations, business groups, investor conferences, and university campuses across the United States, Latin America, and Europe – from Buenos Aires to Berlin, and the World Economic Forum in Davos to Harvard University. Ambassador Gillerman has appeared and been a frequent guest on CNN, Fox News, BBC International, Bloomberg, Al-Jazeera, Meet the Press with Tim Russert, and Charlie Rose, as well as other prestigious news and television programs.

Prior to his work at the United Nations, Ambassador Gillerman served as CEO of several Israeli companies in the chemical, food ingredient, agricultural, and technology sectors. He was Chairman of the Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce, and served on the board of major banks, including the Central Bank of Israel. His work as a member of the Prime Minister's National Economic and Social Council and other bodies led to the globalizing of the Israeli economy. He was also Chairman of the Israel-British Business Council, and a member of the Executive Board of the International Chamber of Commerce, the World Business Organization, and the Aspen Institute in Italy.

Since returning to Israel, Ambassador Gillerman has returned to the business world he left to serve his country, and is deeply involved in international projects and major business ventures, while continuing to promote and advance Israel's causes worldwide. He is the chairman and CEO of Gillerman Global, an investment company with investments in Israel and the Region. He is also chairing a global strategic consulting company that provides governments and corporations with geopolitical and business advice. He is Chairman of the international board of the INSS (Institute for National Security Studies) at Tel Aviv University. In addition he is a fellow of Portland Trust, a private not-for-profit foundation committed to promoting peace and stability between Palestinians and Israelis through economic development, andChairman of the Board of the Israel Philharmonic.

He is the recipient of numerous honors and awards including Honorary Doctorates from Bar-Ilan University and the Netanya Academic College, the International Friendship Award from the Federal Law Enforcement Foundation, and the Golden Eagle Diplomat Wings of Law Award from the Respect for Law Alliance.

Born in Israel, Ambassador Gillerman studied at Tel-Aviv University and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He and his wife Janice have two children, Karen and David, and four grandchildren, Ron,Jonathan, Lia, and Gaia.