Energy Minister Eli Cohen Blocks Appointment of New Noga CEO
Energy Minister Eli Cohen blocked Gilad Bar Adon as CEO of Noga, citing selection flaws and a lack of energy experience, drawing sharp board criticism.
Energy Minister Eli Cohen has blocked the appointment of Gilad Bar Adon as CEO of Noga, the state-owned company managing Israel's electricity system, citing flaws in the selection process and a lack of energy sector experience. Despite Bar Adon being chosen following a selection process conducted by the company's board of directors and supported by the Government Companies Authority, Cohen intervened, prompting sharp criticism from board members who warned the decision endangers the country's power grid management during wartime.
Noga has been operating without a permanent CEO for nearly two years following the resignation of former chief executive Shaul Goldstein amid a dispute with the former board chairman, retired Maj. Gen. Sami Turgeman. The company is currently managed by Shimon Fisher, who serves concurrently as Chief Operating Officer. Additional senior departures, including the head of planning and development Uzi Zarchia and Fisher's impending retirement, threaten to leave the critical infrastructure firm severely understaffed at the top executive level.
Following the appointment of Tal Besex as Noga board chairman in 2025, the company spent months conducting a thorough search process led by an external law firm before selecting Bar Adon. Bar Adon previously served for seven years as CEO of Moriah, managing complex municipal and national infrastructure projects for the Jerusalem municipality and the Ministry of Transport. Although he was previously considered a leading candidate for Israel Railways, where he enjoyed the backing of Transportation Minister Miri Regev and Government Companies Minister David Amsalem, his appointment at Noga was ultimately vetoed.
Security Concerns and Board Backing
Noga board members fiercely criticized the ministerial intervention, warning that leaving the nation's electricity grid without stable leadership poses a severe security risk during ongoing wartime emergencies. A board representative emphasized that Bar Adon was chosen after a comprehensive evaluation of all candidates and a thorough review of the recruitment procedure.
In response, the Ministry of Energy defended the decision, stating that appointing an executive without specialized professional experience in the energy sector could compromise the stability of Israel's power grid. The ministry insisted that the next CEO must possess deep industry expertise, adding that during emergencies, necessary operational backing will be provided by the Public Utility Authority chairman. Officials also noted that Minister Cohen has no pre-selected candidate of his own and that a new search process will now commence.
