Former Bezeq exec Gabbay named CEO of Cellcom

07 January 2020 | Natalie Bannerman

Avi Gabbay, the former CEO of Bezeq, has been named as the new CEO of Cellcom.

Effective as of 19 January 2020, Gabbay replaces Nir Stern who stepped down from the role in December. Since then the company's chairman of the board, Ami Erel, has been actively managing the CEO transition during this period.

Gabbay beat out all other candidates which included Cellcom’s own VP sales and service Amos Maor, and CFO Shlomi Fruhling.

"I am confident that Gabbay, with his excellent understanding of the telecommunications market and leadership, is the right man at the right time to lead Cellcom Israel to execute its restructuring plan and take the company back to profitability,” said Erel. “I want to thank Nir Sztern for his years of service to the company. I wish him every success in his future endeavours."

After his time at Bezeq, Gabbay entered Israeli politics in 2014 joining its Labour party, this is after he co-founded the Kulanu Party. Additionally, between 1994 -1998 he served in various positions in the Budget Division of the Ministry of Finance.