Stanley M. Bergman Elected AJC President

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Jun 04, 2013, 12:58 ET

NEW YORK, June 4, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Stanley M. Bergman has been elected President of AJC during the organization's Global Forum in Washington, D.C. Bergman, who served for the past three years as Chair of AJC's Board of Governors, succeeds Robert Elman.

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"How truly fortunate AJC is to have Stan as our new President," said AJC Executive Director David Harris. "He is an individual of extraordinary professional achievements and personal qualities, and his dedication to AJC's ambitious global mission is remarkable. I've seen it up close on countless occasions and in many capitals around the world. He follows in the big footsteps of Bob Elman, and is indeed a worthy successor."

Bergman, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Henry Schein, Inc., a Fortune 500® Company, has been actively involved with AJC since 2001. He has served on AJC's Executive Council since 2004. In 2006, Bergman and his wife, Dr. Marion Bergman, co-founded AJC's Africa Institute, following the earlier establishment of the agency's Transatlantic Institute, Latino and Latin America Institute, Asia Pacific Institute, and Jacob Blaustein Institute for the Advancement of Human Rights, among others.

"I am honored to lead the AJC -- a uniquely dynamic, vibrant, and creative organization that takes bold initiatives to advance democratic values and Jewish well-being worldwide," said Bergman. "I look forward to continuing my work with the outstanding lay leadership and staff, led by David Harris, AJC's dynamic executive director, to advance AJC's important objectives. It is truly an honor to succeed Robert Elman, a superb leader, who, together with the group of esteemed leaders before him, has contributed to the AJC being globally recognized as the leading worldwide voice for Jewish advocacy."

Stan and Marion Bergman moved to the United States from South Africa in 1976, and for more than three decades have been active supporters of organizations fostering the arts, higher education, human rights, cultural diversity, grassroots health care, and sustainable entrepreneurial economic development initiatives in the United States, as well as in Africa and other developing regions of the world.

"AJC's global reach is unparalleled in the non-governmental organization universe," said Bergman. "I have experienced the positive impact of this extraordinary organization time and again at diplomatic meetings with ambassadors and other officials in New York and Washington, as well as in travel with AJC leadership around the world to meet with key decision makers and political leaders."

SOURCE American Jewish Committee