Early Life
Idan Ofer was born on October 2, 1955, in Haifa, Israel. He is the son of Sammy Ofer, a prominent Israeli shipping magnate, and Aviva Ofer. Growing up in a family with deep roots in the shipping industry, he was exposed to the world of business from an early age. He served in the Israeli Navy as deputy commander of a patrol boat. Ofer graduated from the University of Haifa with a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Shipping. He later received an MBA from the London Business School.
Rise to Success
Idan Ofer began his career by expanding his family's shipping business in the 1980s, working in Hong Kong, Singapore, and the United States. He is the principal of the Quantum Pacific Group, a holding company with diversified investments. He is a majority shareholder of the Israel Corporation, a publicly traded company. He served as the Chairman of the Israel Corporation from 1999 to 2010.
Key Business Strategies
Ofer's business strategy has focused on diversification, with investments spanning shipping, energy, natural resources, and sports. He has been involved in expanding the family shipping business globally and has stakes in major companies such as Israel Corporation and Kenon Holdings. He has also made significant ventures into the sports industry, owning stakes in Atlético Madrid and FC Famalicão. Ofer established Kenon Holdings in 2014, a holding company focused on growth-oriented businesses in the automotive and energy industries.
Philanthropy
Idan Ofer and his wife, Batia Ofer, are active philanthropists. They support various causes, including education, the arts, and humanitarian initiatives. They have contributed to institutions such as the London Business School, where they funded the Sammy Ofer Centre. They also support scholarships for Israeli and Palestinian students at Harvard University. The Idan and Batia Ofer Family Foundation promotes a shared society in Israel through different projects.
