Despite board support: Eli Cohen refuses to approve appointment of Noga CEO

Energy Minister Eli Cohen refuses to approve the appointment of Gilad Bar Adon as CEO of Noga, citing flaws in the selection process and lack of experience in the energy sector. The board and the Government Companies Authority supported the appointment. Noga has been operating for nearly two years without a permanent CEO.

Energy Minister Eli Cohen announced that he will not approve the appointment of Gilad Bar Adon as CEO of Noga, the government company responsible for managing Israel's electricity system. Bar Adon was selected following a screening process conducted by the company's board, but Cohen claims there were flaws in the selection process and that Bar Adon has no experience in the energy sector. His decision contradicts the position of the Noga board and the Government Companies Authority, which supported the appointment. The board criticizes the minister's intervention and warns of harm to the management of the electricity system in an emergency. Noga has been operating for nearly two years without a permanent CEO, and other senior officials are expected to resign soon. A new selection process is expected to open, while Cohen himself is expected to end his term as energy minister later.