Eli Hurvitz

Eli Hurvitz was an Israeli industrialist who served as CEO of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries from 1976 to 2002.

1932 to 2011Leading Teva as CEOChairing Bank LeumiIsrael Prize for lifetime achievement

Died: 21 November 2011, Ramat Gan
Occupation: industrialist, chief executive officer, entrepreneur
Education: Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Eli Hurvitz was born in 1932 in Jerusalem

Eli Hurvitz was born in Jerusalem in 1932 to Zvi and Tzipora Hurvitz. In 1934 his family moved to Tel Aviv. In May 1948 he and his classmates were drafted to fight in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, and he later completed his matriculation exams.

He joined kibbutz Tel Katzir, where he met Dalia Solomon, and they married in 1953. He studied economics at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and graduated in 1957. As a student he began working at Assia, a drug firm linked to his wife's family.

At Assia he moved into management. Assia merged with Zori and took control of Teva, and in 1976 the firms became Teva Pharmaceutical Industries with Hurvitz as CEO. He stepped down as CEO in 2002 and became chairman of the board.

He was president of the Israel Manufacturers Association from 1981 to 1986. In 1986 he became chairman of Bank Leumi and resigned in 1987. He was indicted in 1996 on tax charges linked to Promedico, convicted in 1998 and acquitted by the Supreme Court in 2000.

He received the Israel Prize in 2002. He died on 21 November 2011 and was buried at Givat HaShlosha.

Eli Hurvitz's life in 9 milestones

1932
Born in Jerusalem.
1953
Married Dalia Solomon.
1957
Graduated from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
1976
Became CEO of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries.
1981
Became president of the Israel Manufacturers Association.
1986
Appointed chairman of Bank Leumi.
2000
Acquitted by the Supreme Court in the Promedico case.
2002
Received the Israel Prize and became Teva's chairman.
2011
Died on 21 November.

Eli Hurvitz served in Artillery Corps

He joined the IDF through Nahal and served in the artillery reserves, fighting in the Sinai, Six-Day, Attrition and Yom Kippur wars. He later commanded a battalion and finished as deputy commander of an artillery group with the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Artillery Corps