Ofir Sarid, CEO of Melisron Real Estate Group, Dies at 54

Ofir Sarid, the CEO of the Melisron real estate company, passed away on Sunday at the age of 54 after a battle with a serious illness. Sarid led Melisron, which owns the Ofer Malls chain and is involved in income-generating properties, offices, and residential construction, for nearly seven years.

Melisron announced on September 24 that Sarid was ending his tenure after taking a medical leave of absence earlier that month. The company initiated a search for a permanent CEO, with CFO Oren Hellinger serving as interim replacement. Sarid, a certified public accountant with degrees in economics, accounting, and law, was described by colleagues as a quiet, gentlemanly, and high-quality manager who avoided the spotlight despite operating in a competitive industry.

Sarid joined Melisron in 2011 as CFO of British Israel, which later merged with Melisron. He became CFO of Melisron in March 2012 and was appointed CEO in November 2019, succeeding Avi Levi. During his leadership, Melisron underwent significant strategic changes, including a major expansion into residential real estate. This involved acquiring 50% of Aviv Initiative in 2022 for approximately NIS 600 million, and the remaining shares in 2024 for NIS 1.25 billion, rebranding the entity as Aviv Melisron.

Sarid navigated the company through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, during which malls were closed for extended periods. He oversaw the development of a new strategic plan that diversified Melisron's income streams beyond its traditional mall and office portfolio. Despite the pandemic's impact, Sarid noted the resilience of the mall business, with customer spending rebounding strongly after reopenings. He also highlighted the company's success in the residential sector, including a significant land acquisition in Tel Aviv's Sde Dov area.

Even after the October 7th attacks and subsequent conflict, Melisron's malls saw a strong recovery, with Sarid attributing this to the public's desire for life. He also promoted upgrades to the flagship Ofer Ramat Aviv mall and advanced office projects in Tel Aviv. In July 2025, Sarid was appointed chairman of the Forum of Public Real Estate Companies.