Yoav Gabry Appointed CEO of Ashdod Oil Refinery Amid Operational Challenges and Market Opportunities

Yoav Gabry has been appointed as the new CEO of the Ashdod Oil Refinery (Bazan), replacing Ronen Yehezkel who served for about a year. Gabry brings extensive management experience, including a decade as CEO of MAN Israel and leadership roles at Paz Group and energy startup Bulbee. He holds a B.Sc. in Industrial Engineering and Management from Tel Aviv University, an MBA from Warwick Business School, and completed an executive program in natural gas sales and marketing at Oxford University.

The past year was tumultuous for Bazan, which processes about one-third of Israel's imported crude oil. Shortly after Yehezkel's appointment in April 2025, the 12-day conflict with Iran erupted, during which the refinery was under routine maintenance. Subsequently, Bazan received contaminated crude oil from Azerbaijan via BP, causing approximately $130 million in equipment damage. In February, the Ministry of Environmental Protection fined Bazan 32 million shekels for air pollution, a penalty the refinery is appealing.

Tragically, two female employees, Nitzan Goichman and Irina Radchuk, died due to oxygen shortages caused by faulty protective suits. Following the accident, the Ministry of Labor warned against using oxygen cylinders from Salem Yaakov and Sons, whose founder, Yaakov Salem, was arrested on suspicion of negligent homicide.

Despite these setbacks, Bazan's business outlook is improving due to rising refining margins driven by global supply disruptions. The halt of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz amid US-Iran tensions and Ukraine's unprecedented attacks on Russian refineries have tightened fuel supplies worldwide, benefiting Israeli refineries including Bazan and the larger Haifa-based Bazan.

Offered praise for Gabry's appointment, Bazan's chairman Ofer Orlatsky highlighted his significant managerial experience and energy sector knowledge. Gabry emphasized Bazan's strategic importance to Israel's energy sector and expressed commitment to strengthening the refinery's operations and capitalizing on emerging opportunities.