Arab Israeli to Chair Board of Israel’s Largest Bank

History was made in Israel’s financial sector on Sunday when the nation’s largest bank, Bank Leumi, named an Arab Israeli to chair its board of directors. The bank’s CEO, Rakefet Russak-Aminoach, stepped down on Sunday morning and the position of chairman of the board was filled before close of business that day, replacing David Brodet with Dr. Samer Haj-Yehia, who has served on the board for almost five years. The appointment was greeting positively across the business and political echelons, with leading Arab Israeli parliamentarian Ahmad Tibi remarking that Haj-Yehia had earned the position, and congratulating his “breaking of the glass ceiling.” The new chairman serves on a number of other boards, including Hadassah Medical Center. The glass ceiling is having a bad week: on Monday, Microsoft Israel appointed its second successive CEO when Ronit Atad was tapped for the job.