10 July 2012, London – Following an extensive search and recruitment process, UJIA has announced the appointment of its new Chief Executive, Michael Wegier, who will take over from outgoing CEO Douglas Krikler in September.

Wegier, who made aliyah from London in 1989, has spent the last five years as Executive Director of Melitz educational institute in Jerusalem, where he was responsible for setting and implementing the overall strategy of the organisation, fundraising and the development of strategic partnerships with major Israeli and overseas Jewish organisations.

Prior to that, Wegier had spent five years as a shaliach with UJIA, based in London in the role of Director of Programme and Planning from 2002-2007, where he led the development of UJIA’s strategy for Jewish education in the UK in areas of informal Jewish Education, Israel Experience Programmes and Educational Leadership. During that time, Wegier was also central in helping to develop UJIA’s new Galil-focused Israel strategy in co-ordination with the Israeli Ministry of Education and Ministry for Development of the Negev and Galil, the Jewish Agency and Israeli and international foundations.

Between 1996-1999, Wegier was Director of Jewish Education at the Jewish Community Centre (JCC) in Baltimore, USA.

Wegier is a graduate of the Jerusalem Fellows programme, where his research focused on public policy. He holds a Masters degree in Contemporary Jewry from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, and a BA in Jewish History and Hebrew Literature from University College, London.