Samueli Foundation Welcomes Shlomo Markel, DSc as New Director of Jewish and Israel Philanthropy
Shlomo Markel, DSc, has been named as the new Director of Jewish and Israel Philanthropy at the Samueli Foundation, effective on August 18, 2021.
In this newly established role, Dr. Markel will oversee the Foundation’s overall Jewish Culture and Values portfolio and work directly with grantees and partners in the United States and Israel on the Foundation’s priorities to support Jewish education, spirituality, heritage and community identity and sponsor programs that promote tolerance and diversity and combat antisemitism.
“Shlomo Markel’s extensive experience is a valuable addition to the Samueli Foundation’s overall vision and work,” said Susan and Henry Samueli. “His strong leadership combined with his deep knowledge and relationships in Israel and the United States will help the impact of Samueli Foundation’s philanthropy, not just in our Jewish programs but across all of our strategic funding areas. We look forward to his perspectives and insights.”
“I’m excited to build on the Samueli Foundation’s strong work in support of Jewish leadership, culture and values in Israel and in the United States,” Dr. Markel said. “The impact of philanthropy can have an everlasting impact on the people and community it serves. The Samueli Foundation has already changed the lives of others in so many big and small ways, I am eager to help expand its reach and impact.”
Dr. Markel recently served two decades as a Vice President at Broadcom. He headed the development and execution of a new model for private-public partnerships with the opening of the Broadcom Research & Design Center at the Susan and Henry Samueli Engineering Building at Tel Aviv University in Israel. This private-public partnership brought together all Broadcom sites across Israel to a new state-of-the-art building on the campus of Tel Aviv University, spurring innovation, technological advances and collaboration between business, academia and the community at large. During his tenure at Broadcom, Dr. Markel also oversaw academic partnerships with all major Israeli universities plus STEM education programs with the Ministry of Education, Israel. He also directed research and development, mergers and acquisitions, and technology roadmaps, as well as overall operations in Israel, where Broadcom acquired 13 companies with hundreds of employees during his tenure.
Prior to serving as Vice President at Broadcom, Dr. Markel was the Managing Director and Chief Technology Officer at Argoquest Inc., a US holding company with over 60 innovative start-ups in early stages of development. Before entering the start-up and technology sector, he served over two decades in the Israeli Navy, retiring at the rank of an R Admiral.
Dr. Markel has served on multiple national and international boards and committees. He holds several USA/International Patents and has received various ingenuity citations, including the MoD ‘Creative Thinking’ award, the CNO ‘Ingenuity Award’ (twice), Israel PM Quality Award, and other recognitions. Dr. Markel has received national recognition from the President of Israel for his and Broadcom’s contribution to the state economy. He has also received the Technion Honorary Fellowship for his contribution to academic and technology communities.
In 2019, he received an Honorary Doctorate from Tel Aviv University for his contribution to Israel defense, economics, education, and academia. In 2021, he was named a ‘Honorary Citizen” of the city of Haifa. He earned his BSc, MSc, and DSc in Electrical Engineering from the Technion, Israel Institute of Technology.