Sandler to leave JCA
AFTER eight years in one of the top jobs in Sydney’s Jewish community, Ian Sandler will retire as the JCA chief executive at the end of this year.
AFTER eight years in one of the top jobs in Sydney’s Jewish community, Ian Sandler will retire as the JCA chief executive at the end of this year.
“This was only meant to be a three-year job, but it grew to five, and then eight, and now it’s time to hand it over because I think it’s the right time for a change of leadership,” Sandler, 55, told The AJN this week.
“My final challenge is to find the appropriate leader to take it forward because the key to the JCA is the quality of the lay leadership and the great team and fantastic people that we have in the office.”
Sandler, an accomplished businessman, who had retired before taking on this role, said the body has changed dramatically during his years at the helm. “The JCA has a lot of information, a lot of smart people that give good advice, and we have become a sounding board to a lot of organisations in the community.
“We now speak to the shuls all the time, which never used to happen, and we are in a better spot now than when I came in eight years ago.”
He reflected on the toughest part of the job, which is being able to say no without offending people.
“Your donors have an opinion and you have to manage that because you have to be able to say no without destroying relationships.”
He said it’s important to have the respect of the top business people and funders.
“I might not have as much money as some of our big donors, but I’ve made it in business and so I have their respect.
“The next person is going to have to be able to ask for money and be passionate about the cause.”
JOSHUA LEVI
JCA CEO Ian Sandler.
comments