Ben-Gurion International Airport, Israel, September 10, 2001 - The Israel Industry Award 2001 committee, headed by Moshe Wertheim, Chairman of the judging committee has decided to grant this prestigious award to Itzhak Nissan, General Manager, MBT Division, Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI). The Manufacturer's Association of Israel gives the industry award on an annual basis.
The award was granted in a ceremony being held at Lavon Industrial Park, Israel, with the attendance of Mr. Moshe Katsav, President of the State of Israel, Mrs. Dalia Itzik, Minister of Industry & Commerce and Mr. Oded Tyrah, President of the Manufacturer's Association of Israel.
MBT Division/IAI manufactures observation and communications satellites, missiles, and various sophisticated systems in the field of accurate ordnance.
The judges stated in their resolution that "Itzhak Nissan is initiative, creative and far from being routine. In his former capacity as Director of Missiles and Naval Systems at MBT, he pushed forward innovative ideas, some of which became reality. Among his achievements is the establishment of cooperation with foreign parties in special projects. In his capacity as General Manager, MBT Division, Itzhak Nissan succeeded, in addition to his success in the operational area, also in the marketing area, by achieving a backlog worth three years of work to MBT.
Itzhak Nissan leads MBT to technological innovation and to the development of unique systems, which will become the next generation of MBT's products", said the judging committee in its resolution.
Itzhak Nissan (55), born in Tel-Aviv, holds a Masters Degree in Electronics and Radar Engineering received from the Washington University, Seattle, USA. Nissan has been working at IAI since 1978 and serves as General Manager of the MBT Division, since 1995.
In his greetings to Itzhak Nissan, during a ceremony which was held in IAI's facilities at Lod, Israel, Moshe Keret, IAI's President & CEO, said: "The fact that Itzhak Nissan, General Manager, MBT Division of Israel Aircraft Industries receives the Israeli Industry Award is a great honor, both to him personally and to all IAI's workforce. The fact that we have won the award is evidence to the public's acknowledgement of our technological abilities and our business achievements. By fulfilling these achievements, we are ahead of many other companies in the Israeli market".
Itzhak Nissan, General Manager, MBT Division, thanked Mr. Keret for believing in him. "I enjoy much satisfaction in developing, manufacturing and running MBT Division with a wonderful body of employees, who are willing to make every effort possible in order to achieve the goals".
Secretary of The National Organization for IAI Employees, and member of the Knesset (Israeli Parliament), Haim Katz, said that: "A leader and a manager are measured according to the attitude of their subordinates towards them. The willingness of MBT employees to make their very best efforts to achieve MBT's business objectives is a direct proof for the credibility and trust given to Itzhak Nissan by them".
Under Itzhak Nissan, MBT Division will conclude the year 2001 with sales of $307 million, as compared to $255 million in 2000, and $220 million in 1999. 70% of the sales are sold abroad and 30% is to the local market. MBT Division has a backlog of $900 million. In 1995, when Itzhak Nissan was appointed as MBT's General Manager, sales totaled $129 million, of which 50% was sold abroad and 50% sold domestically.
Photo: Moshe Keret, IAI's President & CEO (right), congratulating Itzhak Nissan. Left: The Secretary of the National Organization for IAI Employees and Member of the Knesset, Haim Katz, raises his glass in honor of Itzhak Nissan.