Boaz Levy

Boaz Levy
Born (1961-09-25) 25 September 1961
Education
  • Science in Aeronautical and Space Engineering from the Technion
  • Master of Science in Systems Engineering at the Technion
  • Directors and Senior Executives program at Tel Aviv University
Notable work
  • General Manager of the Air Defense Systems Division (IAI)
  • Executive Vice President and General Manager of IAI's Systems
  • President & CEO of Israel Aerospace Industries
  • Chairman of IAI’s subsidiary, ELTA Systems
Awards
  • 50 Most Influential Jews in the World
  • Top 100 Positively Influential Jews in the World
  • Key Figures in the Global Defense Sector
  • Israel Defense Awards

Boaz Levy (born September 25, 1961) is an Israeli business executive serving as chairman of the board of directors of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) since May 2026. He also served as president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) from 2020 to 2026, and as vice president and general manager of IAI's Missile and Space Systems Division (MSS) from 2013 to 2020. Levy has also chaired the boards of directors of ELTA Systems and IAI-NA.

Education

Boaz Levy earned a bachelor’s degree in aeronautical and space engineering and a master’s degree in systems engineering from the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology.[1][2]

Career

Levy began his career in the Israel Air Force as a guided weapons expert. He joined IAI in 1989 as an engineer on the Arrow ballistic missile defense project.[1][2] He became chief engineer of the project in 1999 and headed the project between 2003 and 2006.[2][3][4]

In 2013, Levy was appointed executive vice president and general manager of IAI's Systems, Missiles & Space Group, overseeing approximately 3,700 employees across six facilities in Yehud and Be'er Ya'akov. During his tenure, the group reported annual sales exceeding one billion dollars and an order backlog of more than seven billion dollars, and was described as the company's most profitable at the time.[5][6]

During his time at IAI, Levy was involved in agreements for the sale of the Barak 8 air and missile defense system, valued at 2.4 billion dollars, and in the Arrow air defense system agreement with Germany, signed in September 2023 and valued at 3.6 billion dollars.[7][8][9][10]

On November 16, 2020, Levy was selected by the board of directors of Israel Aerospace Industries to serve as president and CEO.[1][2] The appointment was not immediately approved by then minister of defense Benny Gantz, and Levy subsequently served as acting CEO.[11] In January 2022, Gantz approved his permanent appointment.[12] During his tenure as CEO, the Iron Swords War and the military operations with Kalavi and Hagar Hari took place, in which the company's products were widely used, particularly the Arrow system to intercept ballistic missiles launched at Israel from Yemen and Iran.[13]

In May 2026, Levy's appointment as chairman of the board of directors of Israel Aerospace Industries was approved, with the signatures of Defense Minister Israel Katz and Minister in Charge of Government Companies David Amsalem, following approval by the Committee for Examining Appointments in Government Companies.[14][15][16]

In January 2026, Levy said that IAI sought to integrate the Arrow system into the United States' Golden Dome missile defense initiative. He cited the system's operational experience against ballistic missile threats and IAI's longstanding cooperation with the Missile Defense Agency and U.S. defense industry.[17][18]

Boaz Levi and Bennett in IAI, 2020

According to company reports, the years 2021[19][20] through 2024, during which Levy has been serving as president and CEO, were the most profitable in the company’s history, and its order backlog surpassed 25 billion shekels.[1][21] In 2025, the company recorded its highest-ever net profit of $712 million, with sales of 7.4 billion shekels and an order backlog exceeding $30 billion.[22] The company reported that net profit increased by 435% between 2020 and 2025, while growth in sales, profitability, and backlog continued into the first quarter of 2026.

Awards and honors

Levy was included in The Jerusalem Post list of the 50 Most Influential Jews in the World in 2023 and 2025.[23][1] Also in 2023, he received the Bialkin Leadership Award from the America-Israel Friendship League.[24] Levy was also included in the Top 100 Positively Influential Jews in the World list published by The Algemeiner.[25]

In January 2024, Aviation Week listed Levy among the key figures in the global defense sector for 2024. In the same year, he was selected to light the Defender’s Torch during Israel’s 76th Independence Day ceremony.[26][27]

In September 2024, Levy was awarded an honorary degree from the Holon Institute of Technology (HIT) for his contribution to the field of security.[28]

Levy has received multiple Israel Defense Awards, including one awarded in 2024.[29][30]

In February 2025, Levy was awarded the title of Honorary Fellow by Afeka Academic College of Engineering for his contributions to the field.[31] In September 2025, he was included in The Jerusalem Post's list of the 50 Most Influential Jews in the World, having previously appeared on the list in 2023.[32]

In 2026, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAE), under Levy's leadership, won three prestigious awards for advanced technological and intelligence projects: the "Ofek 13" and "Ofek 19" spy satellite project in partnership with the Space Directorate at the Israel Defense Forces and Unit 9900 of the Intelligence Directorate; electronic warfare systems in collaboration with Unit 8200 and the Research Division at the Intelligence Directorate; and a classified operational system for the Mossad.[33][34]

Personal life

Levy is married and has two children.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "No. 13: Israel Aerospace Industries CEO Boaz Levy". The Jerusalem Post. 2025-09-21. Retrieved 2026-03-04.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "IAI names Boaz Levy CEO". Globes. 2020-11-17. Retrieved 2026-03-04.
  3. ↑ Defence, Arabian (2020-11-17). "Boaz Levy Appointed CEO of IAI". Arabian Defence. Retrieved 2026-03-04.
  4. ↑ European Security & Defence (Issue 1/2021). “Boaz Levy Appointed CEO of IAI”, European Security & Defence, Mittler Report Verlag GmbH. Retrieved 2026‑03‑04, from https://euro-sd.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/ESD_01_2021.pdf
  5. ↑ "בועז לוי מונה למנהל חטיבת טילים וחלל בתע"א". Techtime - חדשות אלקטרוניקה והייטק (in Hebrew). 2013-01-02. Retrieved 2025-04-01.
  6. ↑ האווירית, התעשייה (2013-01-03). "בועז לוי מונה לסמנכ"ל התעשייה האווירית ומנהל חטיבת מערכות טילים וחלל". הידען - Hayadan (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2025-04-01.
  7. ↑ פינקו, אייל (2021-06-06). "ברק 8 – ההיסטוריה הלא כתובה | Israel Defense". www.israeldefense.co.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2025-04-01.
  8. ↑ "Germany deploys Israeli-made Arrow anti-missile defense". The Jerusalem Post. 2025-12-03. Retrieved 2026-03-04.
  9. ↑ דומבה, עמי רוחקס (2023-11-23). "הושלמה עסקת המכירה של מערכת ׳חץ 3׳ לגרמניה | Israel Defense". www.israeldefense.co.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2025-04-01.
  10. ↑ Deutschland, Business Insider (2026-02-23). "Deutschlands Raketenabwehr Arrow 3 – ein Schuss kostet Millionen". Business Insider (in German). Retrieved 2026-08-19. {{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  11. ↑ "התעשייה האווירית תבנה לוויין תקשורת לאומי". ynet (in Hebrew). 2020-01-02. Retrieved 2025-04-01.
  12. ↑ "בני גנץ אישר: מנכ"ל חדש לתעשייה האווירית". Ice (in Hebrew). 2022-04-12. Retrieved 2025-04-01.
  13. ↑ "Operation Iron Swords: Israel's Fight Against Iranian-Backed Terrorism | Israel | Middle East Observer". https://middleeast.observer/. 2025-04-21. Retrieved 2026-08-19. {{cite web}}: External link in |website= (help)
  14. ↑ "Israel Aerospace Industries CEO Boaz Levy named chairman | The Jerusalem Post". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 2026-05-16. Retrieved 2026-08-19.
  15. ↑ "Boaz Levy Appointed Chairman of IAI Board". Aeromagasia. 2026-05-15. Retrieved 2026-08-19.
  16. ↑ Reporter, Staff (2026-05-14). "The Engineer Who Became IAI's Strategic Steward: Boaz Levy Appointed IAI Chairman - Defence News Defence Blog, Defence Aerospace News". Retrieved 2026-08-19.
  17. ↑ "Golden Dome: Partnership matters for America's defense | The Jerusalem Post". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 2026-01-05. Retrieved 2026-08-19.
  18. ↑ "מנכ"ל התעשייה האווירית מציב מטרה: שילוב מערכת החץ בפרוייקט השאפתני של טראמפ - וואלה חדשות". וואלה (in Hebrew). 2026-01-16. Retrieved 2026-08-19.
  19. ↑ זקן, דני (2022-03-16). "התעשייה האווירית: 2021 - השנה הטובה ביותר מאז הקמת החברה". Globes. Retrieved 2025-04-01.
  20. ↑ דומבה, עמי רוחקס (2023-03-09). "תעשייה אווירית, 2022: צבר ההזמנות גדל בכשני מיליארדי דולרים | Israel Defense". www.israeldefense.co.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2025-04-01.
  21. ↑ "IAI posts record USD 26.5bn backlog as nine-month profit and sales reach highest levels ever". 2025-11-20. Retrieved 2026-03-04.
  22. ↑ Global, ynet; Global, ynet (2026-03-11). "IAI profit jumps 45% in 2025 as global demand for defense systems soars". Ynetglobal. Retrieved 2026-08-19.
  23. ↑ "50 Influential Jews: Boaz Levy and Amir Peretz - No. 21". The Jerusalem Post. 15 September 2023. ISSN 0792-822X. Retrieved 2025-04-01.
  24. ↑ "Israel Aerospace head Levi receives Bialkin Leadership Award from America-Israel Friendship League". The Jerusalem Post. 2023-12-06. ISSN 0792-822X. Retrieved 2025-04-01.
  25. ↑ Algemeiner, The (2022-11-30). "The Top 100 People Positively Influencing Jewish Life, 2022 - Algemeiner.com". www.algemeiner.com. Retrieved 2025-04-01.
  26. ↑ "התעשייה האווירית הודיעה היום (מוצ״ש) על החלטת דירקטוריון אלתא למנות את דרור בר לתפקיד סמנכ"ל תע"א ומנכ"ל אלתא". www.iai.co.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2025-04-01.
  27. ↑ "תואר יוקרתי במיוחד לנשיא ומנכ"ל התעשייה האווירית - וואלה כסף". וואלה (in Hebrew). 2024-01-10. Retrieved 2025-04-01.
  28. ↑ ". HIT Holon Institute of Technology, Israel awarded at this year's Doctor Honoris Causa Ceremony Five Honorary Doctorates". www.diplomacy.co.il. Retrieved 2026-08-19.
  29. ↑ "חץ בין העיניים: הלילה שבו ישראל הציגה את חומת ההגנה הטובה בעולם - וואלה חדשות". וואלה (in Hebrew). 2024-10-01. Retrieved 2025-04-01.
  30. ↑ אייכנר, איתמר (2024-05-04). "בעקבות יירוט המתקפה האיראנית: בכירי התעשיות הביטחוניות ישיאו משואה". Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2025-04-01.
  31. ↑ "טקס הענקת תארי מוסמך ועמיתי כבוד במרכז רבין | אפקה". מכללת אפקה (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2026-08-19.
  32. ↑ "No. 13: Israel Aerospace Industries CEO Boaz Levy | The Jerusalem Post". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 2025-09-21. Retrieved 2026-08-19.
  33. ↑ "Israel Defense Prize 2026 Awarded to IDF, Mossad, ISA & Defense Industries for Groundbreaking Projects That Significantly Impacted Combat Operations | Homepage". Ministry of Defense (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2026-08-19.
  34. ↑ Staff, J. N. S. (2026-06-11). "Israel Aerospace Industries gets 3 awards at Israel Defense Prize ceremony". Israel & Jewish News - JNS. Retrieved 2026-08-19.
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