Channel 13 News CEO Tali Ben Ovadia to Depart After Elections

Tali Ben Ovadia, CEO of Channel 13 News, announced on Thursday that she will be leaving her position shortly after the upcoming elections. Her departure comes less than a year after the board appointed her as the permanent CEO of the news company. This decision follows the Second Authority for Television and Radio's approval in September of the sale of Reshet 13 to Assaf Rappaport and Yinon Costika.

In a letter to employees, Ben Ovadia stated, "A few weeks ago, I requested to be released from my position after the elections." She expressed satisfaction with her decision, despite the difficulty of parting ways with the staff, whom she described as talented and dedicated journalists. Ben Ovadia acknowledged the challenging period they navigated together, calling it a privilege to have overseen a significant era for the country.

Ben Ovadia's exit occurs amidst significant changes for Reshet 13 and its news division, stemming from the ownership change and a prolonged period of uncertainty surrounding the channel's future. A key anticipated move is the relocation of the channel from its current, iconic premises in Tel Aviv to new offices in the Raul 16 project on Raul Wallenberg Street, near the Keshet building.

Ben Ovadia's tenure followed the brief and unsuccessful leadership of Yuli Shmalov-Berkovich, whose appointment was cut short due to strong opposition from the channel's journalists. Prior to her role at Channel 13, she served as the chief editor for "Relevant," a venture by Nir Tzuk and Lior Shlein that closed after a short run. She was initially appointed interim CEO in November 2024 after the news company's board failed to reach an agreement on a permanent CEO, amidst internal disputes over candidates. Former Chairman Nadav Topolsky, former CEO Emiliano Calmezuk, and Director Zvi Heifetz had supported Ben Ovadia's appointment, while former public representatives Dr. Yifat Ben-Chai Segev and Avraham Natan favored Eran Tipeborn. Reshet representatives alleged that Ben-Chai Segev and Natan actively worked to thwart Ben Ovadia's permanent appointment, characterizing their opposition as unwarranted and outside the norm of corporate management.