Pini Cohen

Pinhas (Pini) Cohen (born May 25, 1951) is an Israeli director, manager, entrepreneur, and company chairman. Cohen has led several extensive national infrastructure projects in Israel, such as the Cross-Israel Highway, the IDF Training Campus (City of Training Bases), and several energy facilities. In the past, Cohen served as chairman and CEO of public companies and held senior management positions in the fields of insurance, real estate, and infrastructure, including CEO of Ararat Insurance Company, CEO of Africa Israel Investments Group, Chairman of Danya Cebus, and Chairman of Derech Eretz, the concessionaire for the Cross-Israel Highway. Cohen is a founding partner and chairman of the Noy Fund, the largest infrastructure fund in Israel, chairman and partner in America Israel Investments Ltd., and is engaged in public activity and philanthropy.

Biography

Cohen was born to a family from the crypto-Jewish community of the city of Mashhad in northern Persia, Jews who kept their Judaism in secret under Islamic rule. His parents immigrated separately to Israel during the British Mandate period via illegal immigration (Aliyah Bet), out of enthusiastic Zionism. His father, Shmuel, immigrated to Israel in 1935 without his family, alongside a group of young people, on foot and on mules and donkeys. He was imprisoned in prisons in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon, and finally crossed the mountains of Lebanon on foot. His mother, Malka, then a young girl, immigrated with her family, making the journey from Mashhad to Tehran by truck, from there to Baghdad, and onwards via winding paths, until they crossed the northern border of the Land of Israel at Kfar Giladi in 1936.

Cohen studied at the Beit Hinuch A elementary school, and in a 5-year track specializing in metal technicians at the ORT Yad Singalovski Campus in Tel Aviv. In 1970, he completed his high school studies and qualified as a metal technician. That same year, he enlisted in the Ordnance Corps. Later, he served as an instructor at the corps' Officers School. During the Yom Kippur War, he commanded a brigade workshop in the 188th Armored Brigade, as part of reinforcing the regular armored array on the Golan Heights. During his reserve service, he filled a series of command and logistics roles, including battalion ordnance officer and commander of an engine battalion in the tank and APC engine brigades of the Southern Command. He was discharged from reserve service with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel (Sgan Aluf).

Upon his discharge from the IDF in 1974, he began academic studies in industrial engineering and management at Tel Aviv University, which he completed in 1978. Cohen is among the graduates of the first class of the Holon Institute of Technology, which at the time operated as an academic branch of Tel Aviv University.

Cohen worked at "Ararat Insurance Company Ltd." as a surveyor and appraiser and was promoted to various management positions within the company, including manager of the northern branch, manager of the claims department, and assistant to the CEO. In 1984, he was appointed CEO of the company.

Between 1992 and 1994, he served as Deputy CEO of the Rav-Bariach company.

Between 1994 and 1998, he served as CEO of the Eldan Transportation Group.

Between 2006 and 2019, he served as chairman and partner in the Davidoff Group.

His Work as CEO of Africa Israel Group

In 1998, Cohen was appointed CEO of the Africa Israel Investments Group, which operated in the areas of commercial and residential real estate, construction contracting, and hotels, serving in this position for 8 years. During these years, the group's activities expanded in Israel into the fields of communications and fashion, and its international operations began. The company expanded the scope of its real estate projects and initiated its involvement in large-scale infrastructure projects in Israel under the PPP model, a field that was still in its infancy within the private sector at the time. Additionally, the group's activities expanded to the United States, Europe, and the Far East.

Upon retiring from Africa Israel in 2006, he was appointed Chairman of the "Elad" Group owned by Yitzhak Tshuva and was later appointed manager of his private real estate arm in Asia and Europe.

Partnership in America Israel Investments

In 2009, he joined America Israel Investments as a senior partner and chairman, purchasing 30% of the company's shares. The company operates as an investment and entrepreneurship firm focusing on capital-intensive projects, primarily in residential real estate.

Establishment of the Noy Fund

In 2011, together with Gil-Ad Boshwitz and Ran Shelach, he established the Noy Fund, where he serves as a founding partner and chairman. The fund focuses on investment, development, and operation of infrastructure essential to the economy, including roads, energy facilities, public transportation, and several large-scale public projects.

Cohen serves as the Chairman of Negev Energy, Megalim, and Kochav Hayarden.

Public Involvement

Since 2005, Cohen has served as Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Friends of Rabin Medical Center Association. In 2018, the Transplantation Department at Beilinson Hospital was named after Pninit and Cohen in recognition of their contribution to promoting a center of professional, research, and human excellence. In 2021, the Department of Neurology was also named after them.

For their involvement over the years, Cohen and Pninit Cohen were awarded the "Yakir Rabin Medical Center" honor.

Since 2010, Cohen has served as Chairman of the Friends of Meir Institute Association.

Since 2015, Cohen has served as chairman of the board of Trustees of the Holon Institute of Technology (HIT).

MIND Israel

In 2023, Cohen, along with Amos Yadlin, founded the organization MIND Israel, and he serves as its chairman. The organization engages in strategic accompaniment and consultation for security and political bodies, as well as decision-makers.

Between 2013 and 2022, Cohen served as chairman of the board of Trustees of the Institute for National Security Studies.

Personal life

Cohen is married to Dr. Pninit Cohen and is the father of two children.