ANT KATZ

Darren today told Jewish Report that Lance had approached him in December. He had a few preliminary discussions with the Hatzolah board, they did some e-mailing over the holidays and signed and sealed everything last week.

Since the announcement, says Darren: “I have had an outpouring of support. People have been calling me and posting greetings and good wishes on social media.”

Lance Abramson advised the Hatzolah staff on Tuesday morning at a special breakfast, after which the addressed the following letter to members:

“For a long time now it has been the board’s firm view that Hatzolah has grown to the point where it has become very difficult to oversee the day to day management of the organisation on a part time basis.   With the number of phone calls, e-mails, meetings and issues that the board are dealing with it is truly amazing that any board member has time to get any of their regular work done!

“Whilst the current managers are doing a most excellent job on their respective portfolios, there is clearly a need for a high level general manager to co-ordinate and oversee all aspects of operations from a holistic point of view on a day to day basis, and then to report into the board on a regular basis.  It is also clear that the current managers are operating at full capacity in their respective portfolios and would not have capacity to take on a different role with a different focus,” wrote Lance.

Opportunity became available

“This discussion has been going on at board level for a long time now and in early December an interesting opportunity arose with Darren Sevitz becoming available,” explained Lance Abramson. 

“Most of you will know or have heard of Darren for his outstanding work in the kashrut department but his role at the UOS was much broader than that as Darren was effectively the CEO of the UOS.

“Exploratory meetings were held with Darren and the board were amazed that his function at the UOS was exactly the same function that we had been thinking about for a long time for Hatzolah – holistically managing things on a day to day basis and reporting into a volunteer board, as well as conceiving and bringing into existence new dynamic expansion projects to enhance the organisation.

“Discussions progressed quickly and we are now delighted to announce that Darren will be joining Hatzolah on 1 February as our “Executive General Manager”.  We believe it’s a case of Johannesburg’s favourite Jewish personality joins Johannesburg’s favourite charity!

LEFT: Darren Sevitz

“All full time staff will now report directly to Darren who will then report into the board,”

New projects on cards

Darren, wrote Lance, will also be tasked with exciting projects that the board have always wanted to tackle but simply have not had the capacity to do so.

“The board believes the appointment of Darren will be another important step in the growth and continual improvement of our organisation and the service we deliver to the Johannesburg Jewish Community.

“We take this opportunity of welcoming Darren on board and wishing him Hatzlocha Rabbah in his new role!”

Lance Abramson went on to list a short CV of Darren’s, the tachlis of which his studies of Commerce, Accounting, Business Economics and Industrial Relations at WITS and Corporate Business Administration at the SA Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators.

Darren is also a member of the board at the Waverley shul.

Darren told SAJR Online that he was approached by lance “shortly after I left the UOS.”  He says that the negotiations were conducted in an “open and truthfully manner,” and that there were no issues standing in their way. “We made the decision on the spot last week,” Darren told Jewish Report today.”