About Michael Kassen
Michael Kassen was born and raised in Cleveland, OH. Mr. Kassen has served as AIPAC’s National President since March 2012.

He began his professional career at Fidelity Investments in Boston, working first as a security analyst and then as a mutual fund portfolio manager. In 1990, he joined Neuberger Berman in New York as Portfolio Manager of the Partners Fund. Mr. Kassen was elected Partner in 1992 and appointed to the Executive Committee in 1996. In 1999, he became the first Chief Investment Officer of the firm and served in that capacity until the end of 2002.  

Today, Mr. Kassen’s focus primarily lies in his civic activity. As President of AIPAC’s National Board of Directors, Michael maintains relationships with key members of Congress and the United States Administration, in an effort to further the U.S.-Israel alliance. In partnership with the professional staff and lobbyists of AIPAC, Michael works to formulate the organization’s legislative agenda and lobbies members of Congress monthly in Washington D.C. on a multitude of issues affecting the U.S.-Israel relationship.

Mr. Kassen is a graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Business School. He lives in Westport, CT with his wife Shelly, who is Second Selectwoman of Westport and, with Michael, is a Trustee of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. They have three daughters: Diana, Amy, and Laura.

 

About Howard Kohr

Widely recognized as a leader in working to strengthen the vital U.S.-Israel strategic partnership, Howard Kohr became AIPAC’s Executive Director in 1996 and was appointed Chief Executive Officer in 2013. Under his tenure, AIPAC has been consistently ranked as the most influential foreign policy lobbying organization on Capitol Hill.

Mr. Kohr has helped to navigate congressional passage of the annual U.S. Foreign Aid bill by historic, record-breaking margins accomplishments achieved often in the midst of a hostile, budget cutting environment. He also played a key role in moving ground breaking sanctions aimed against rogue terror states from conception to legislation.

Respected by both Democrats and Republicans, Mr. Kohr has been a principal guide in helping the pro-Israel community build vital relationships with the leadership on Capitol Hill. He is routinely praised by members of both parties for his insight, leadership and good counsel on issues of critical importance.

A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Mr. Kohr’s determination, strength of character, and his dedication to the Jewish people can be traced back to the example set by his parents. His father, Kurt z”l, escaped from the Dachau concentration camp after five years of slave labor, and then was wounded in action while fighting for the Hagana during Israel’s War of Independence. Kurt Kohr has been Howard’s inspiration throughout his career as an activist for Jewish causes. He resides in Fairfax, Virginia, with his wife, Sherri, and their three children.