Avi Elkind serves as ICF Vice President taking care of complex financial issues. He is also the Chairman & CEO of E.A. ELKIND Ltd., Financial & Economic advisory service company for corporations and agencies emphasizing on strategic financial planning, investment, trade and project finance & funding utilizing securitization. Avi Elkind is involved in financial engineering and development of advanced financing tools.
Israel Airport Authority, Israel Port Authority, Municipalities, Insurance, Leasing, as well as manufacturing companies, are among his clients.
Avi Elkind has been serving as a member of the Board of Directors of more than 10 companies from a variety of industries, such as holding companies, real estate, manufacturing, chemicals, International trade, leasing, Hi Tech, Export credit, as well as financial services (pension funds, mutual funds and provident funds) .
In previous years, Avi Elkind held several senior Government positions in Israel (The Ministry of Finance) and worked as Chief Financial Officer of Pelephone Communications Ltd. - A major cellular operator in Israel with 1 billion $ annual turnover.
During his long experience in the public sector, Mr. Elkind was involved in planning, executing and controlling of many economic reforms including:
The Stabilization Program (The most comprehensive economic reform succeeded to reduce inflation from over 400% to almost 0%);
Tax incentives programs for capital and R&D investments, some other tax reforms;
Privatization of Government owned companies.
In his last position with the Government Mr. Elkind served as Senior Deputy Accountant General in which was in charge of:
The entire International financial activity of the government include borrowing of foreign currency (Approx. 3 billion annually) by issuing bonds in the Yankee, Euro and in the Samurai capital markets, issuing bonds guaranteed by A.I.D, establishing an Euro Medium Term Program (750 million USD); Utilizing trade related credit facilities and project financing, and by syndicated loan facilities;
External debt management of approx. $25 billion;
Export Credit Activities through IFTRIC, Israel Export Credit Agency (Ashra and ICIC); Bilateral Export Credit agreements, Representing Israel at the “Paris Club" rescheduling negotiations with LDC countries;
Issuing Government financial guarantees.
In the years 1988 – 1992 Avi Elkind served as Israeli Consul for Economic Affairs to the Southwest of the U.S. He was official Economic and Commercial Representative of Israel, in charge of promoting Israel’s economy and business ties with the local business community. Avi reopened the regional office of the BIRD Foundation and helped American and Israeli Hi-Tech companies form joint ventures in R&D in order to apply for it’s financing.
Elkind is a graduate of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Social studies – Economics, Business Administration and International Affairs.
He also attended IMF – Advance Course in Public Finance.
