A few hours after Israel Discount Bank (IDB) announced that Uri Levin would become their new CEO, Bank Hapoalim released their latest pick for CEO — Dov Kotler. The announcement was a surprise as the bank has a long history of hiring from within, and Kotler never worked directly for Bank Hapoalim. Kotler was CEO of Prisma, a failed investment house, as well as CEO of Isracard and Cal (both Israel Credit card companies). He also served as CEO of the smaller Union Bank. Kotler, who is 63, has a BA in Economics and an MBA from Tel Aviv University. Kotler and Levin are almost a generation apart, with Levin having a strong technical background, and Kotler having a much more traditional financial management career. Kotler will now head Israel largest bank, while Levin leads IDB, the country’s third largest bank.
