Shaul Elovitch

Shaul Elovitch is an Israeli businessman and investor notable for his roles in telecommunications, media, and technology sectors, and for his leadership of Bezeq. He is associated with major Israeli conglomerates, corporate acquisitions, and high-profile legal investigations that have drawn attention from Israeli regulators and courts. His career intersects with prominent figures and institutions in Israeli finance, politics, and media.

Early life and education

Born in Poland and raised in Israel, Elovitch's formative years overlapped with waves of post-World War II migration to Tel Aviv. He attended technical and business-focused institutions in Israel, connecting him early to networks in the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, Bank Leumi, and industrial enterprises active in Haifa and the Negev. His background placed him in contact with executives from Paz Oil Company, IDB Group, and management circles linked to Histadrut-era industrial policy.

Business career

Elovitch built a conglomerate-oriented career through investments, mergers, and strategic partnerships with Israeli and international entities, collaborating with executives from Deutsche Telekom, Microsoft, Amdocs, and venture capital firms in Silicon Valley. He engaged in privatization-era transactions involving assets related to Israel Railways suppliers, energy suppliers tied to IEC (Israel Electric Corporation), and media rights connected to broadcasters like Reshet and Keshet. His portfolio included stakes in cable, satellite, and broadband ventures alongside alliances with financial institutions such as Bank Hapoalim, Mizrahi-Tefahot Bank, and asset managers tied to the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange listing process.

Bezeq and telecommunications ventures

As chairman of Bezeq, Elovitch presided over strategic shifts including acquisitions, restructuring, and expansion into fixed-line, mobile, and internet services, negotiating with regulators at the Ministry of Communications (Israel) and engaging with competitors like Cellcom, Partner Communications Company, and Pelephone. Under his tenure Bezeq pursued consolidations involving subsidiaries such as Yes (Israel) and joint ventures with equipment suppliers including Nokia, Ericsson, and Huawei. His leadership entailed dealings with corporate governance bodies including the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange supervisory committees and interactions with state-owned enterprises such as Israel Postal Company around infrastructure projects.

Legal issues and investigations

Elovitch became the subject of high-profile investigations by Israeli law enforcement and prosecutorial bodies including the Israel Police and the State Attorney, amid probes into alleged corruption, fraud, and regulatory violations involving media transactions and preferential treatment by political figures. Cases examined interactions with politicians and media proprietors linked to entities such as Yisrael Beiteinu, Likud, and broadcasters like Channel 10 (Israel); investigations referenced communications with business leaders connected to Walla! and media moguls like Arnon Mozes. Judicial proceedings involved courts such as the Tel Aviv District Court and raised questions about corporate governance practices overseen by boards with directors from Clal Insurance Enterprises Holdings, Osem-Nestlé, and other major Israeli conglomerates. Prosecutors coordinated with regulatory agencies including the Israel Securities Authority in gathering evidence related to alleged market manipulation, insider arrangements, and breach of fiduciary duties tied to transactions in the telecommunications and media markets.

Personal life and philanthropy

Elovitch's family and personal connections link him to philanthropic and cultural institutions across Israel, supporting initiatives related to healthcare facilities in Jerusalem and Haifa, educational programs associated with universities like Tel Aviv University and Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and charitable foundations connected to community organizations in Netanya and Ashdod. His network includes relationships with business figures from the Israeli Chamber of Commerce and donors engaged with museums and research centers such as the Israel Museum and scientific institutes cooperating with the Weizmann Institute of Science.

Category:1948 births Category:Israeli businesspeople