The Jewish Federations of North America has announced the appointment of Eric D. Fingerhut, currently the president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Hillel International, as JFNA’s next president and CEO.

At Hillel, Fingerhut developed groundbreaking partnerships, asserted leadership in advocacy for Israel and instituted a cultural transformation. He doubled Hillel’s collective annual revenue from $90 million to nearly $200 million. He also revolutionized the development of talent across the entire Hillel network.

“I grew up in Cleveland,” Fingerhut recounts. “My mother was a receptionist at the Federation-supported Cleveland Jewish News for 30 years. My father sold insurance. I didn’t realize it at the time, but my early life was shaped by Federation. I went to pre-school at the JCC. I vividly remember carrying signs in the walkathons standing up for Israel during the 1967 and 1973 wars.”

Fingerhut continued. “Never did I imagine that nearly a half century later, I would have the opportunity to lead a Movement that has impacted my life and so many others. It has a rich history, and I believe it can have an even more impactful future. I am excited to take on that challenge.”

Eric is slated to begin his tenure at JFNA on August 6, 2019.