(Courtesy of IAC) The Israeli-American Council (IAC) named former U.S. Special Envoy Elan S. Carr as its next chief executive officer. Carr will assume the role on October 1, succeeding Shoham Nicolet, IAC’s co-founder and its CEO for the past eight years.
Carr, a second-generation Israeli-American and native Hebrew speaker, brings to the IAC his extensive experience as a U.S. diplomat, military officer, criminal prosecutor and community leader. He has been involved with the IAC since its inception in 2007, when his parents were among the initial group that founded the organization.
“I am deeply honored to assume the helm of the IAC at this important time, and I’m excited by the organization’s enormous potential,” said Carr. “Our community of Israeli-Americans and Jewish-Americans is grappling with significant challenges, including assimilation and antisemitism. By combining community engagement and civic activism, youth programs and educational courses, leadership development and Israel advocacy, the IAC is strongly positioned to respond to those challenges and build a vibrant, committed community for generations to come. I am privileged to help lead that cause.”
In 2019, Carr was appointed U.S. special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism. In this role, he served as the senior diplomatic representative of the United States and the senior adviser to the secretary of state on the subject of antisemitism, and he led U.S. policy and programs aimed at combating it. Prior to his federal appointment, Carr prosecuted violent felony crimes for more than a decade as a deputy district attorney for Los Angeles County. Carr also served as an officer in the U.S. Army Reserve and received multiple awards for his two decades of military service.
Carr was born and raised in New York City. He studied philosophy and political science at the University of California, Berkeley, and earned his law degree from Northwestern University School of Law.
“We could not be more excited that Elan will be leading the IAC. His personal connection to the IAC, profound dedication to the Israeli-American community, commitment to strengthening the ties between the U.S. and Israel, accomplished leadership, and achievements in fighting antisemitism brings to the IAC an exceptional track record and makes him a perfect fit for the role,” said Naty Saidoff, chairman of the IAC board of directors. “We are also thankful to our departing CEO Shoham Nicolet for his exemplary leadership and are certain that his legacy will forever be etched in the annals of the IAC’s history. We are confident that Elan and Shoham will work on a seamless transition for our organization.”
