Director General of Israel’s Finance Ministry between the years 2007 and 2010. Among the leaders of the Israeli economy during the 2008 global crisis, a period which the country surpassed with impressive success, and was responsible for directing and implementing the government’s economic policy before and during the crisis. Mr. Ariav headed the Steering Committee for Israel’s inclusion in the OECD, and was a central figure in the implementation of prominent economic and social reforms.

Prior to working for the government Mr. Ariav served as General Manager of ICL Fertilizers – a complex industrial concern of hundreds of millions of Euros. In this capacity he managed the concern’s overall manufacturing and marketing operations in Europe. Prior to that Ariav filled a variety of positions in Israel Chemicals Ltd. (ICL), including as ICL’s representative in South America, Director at SQM in Chile, VP Marketing at Rotem Amfert Negev Ltd., and Senior VP Marketing at ICL Fertilizers.

Between 1985 and 1993 Ariav served as Deputy Director of the Budget Department of the Ministry of Finance, where he was responsible for the budgets of the financial ministries of the government. In this position he took a central role in governmental policy setting including research and development incentives and the establishment of “Yozma Co” for leading reforms in import, energy, agriculture and more.

Mr. Ariav serves as chairman of the Executive Committee of Ben Gurion University, chairman of Lod Foundation and board member of ‘Latet’ national food bank. From 2022 he serves as chair of the investment committee of Israel sovereign fund.

Mr. Ariav holds an M.A (cum laude) in Economics from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.