Victory CEO Eyal Ravid Hires Crisis PR Expert Amidst Scandal

Eyal Ravid, CEO and owner of the "Victory" supermarket chain, has hired prominent communications and crisis management consultant Julian Levinson to bolster his public relations efforts amidst a growing public storm. Levinson will work alongside Ravid's existing spokesperson, Gal Beisberg, who has advised Ravid and the company for nearly a decade. Industry sources indicate Beisberg will continue to lead the overall strategy, while Levinson will focus on day-to-day media operations, including issuing statements and managing Ravid's defense with reporters.

Levinson's hiring comes after his involvement in a recent Channel 11 investigative report. The report revealed Levinson secretly recorded strategic advisor Ronen Tzur, an act that allegedly exposed a "hive" managing a smear campaign by billionaire Alex Sklar against private investigator Zvika Naveh. The report also claimed Levinson offered Sklar's associates a price of approximately one million shekels to manage the campaign against Naveh. Levinson also operates the independent news site "Post News," which could serve as a platform for disseminating messages and generating media attention for Ravid's image crisis.

The controversy surrounding Victory erupted following an exposé on Channel 13's investigative program. Leaked recordings featured Ravid and Beisberg discussing plans to build Ravid's image as a "fighter against the cost of living." However, behind the scenes, conversations allegedly revealed a more complex reality, including support for price increases from suppliers.

With Levinson now on board as an additional media consultant, Ravid aims to address the fallout from the scandal, mitigate damage to the company's stock, and restore consumer trust in the Victory chain.