Jeremy Levin: I'm an unemployed immigrant

The former Teva CEO told the Tel Aviv University MBA graduation ceremony that he is open to job offers.

"I'm proud of my previous job at Teva, which was built so impressively by Eli Hurvitz. Teva has wonderful and dedicated people who are led by a strong management, some of whom are here now. As for myself, I immigrated and I'm now unemployed, so if you have some interesting offers...," former Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE: TEVA; TASE: TEVA) president and CEO Jeremy Levin said in the keynote address at the graduation ceremony of Tel Aviv University's Kellogg-Recanati School of Business MBA program on Tuesday.

"I intend to devote my time in the short term to get to know Israel and Israelis, and to see everything that this country has to offer. There is special warmth and love in Israel, and I'm proud to be an Israeli." Levin advised the new graduates, "Follow your hearts, dream big, learn from mistakes and appreciate the loss in order to learn from it."

"My father opposed the Apartheid regime in South Africa, and had to leave our home within two hours because he was persecuted. I know people who make change in a difficult geopolitical environment. I came here to contribute and be part of this special nation.

"I encourage you to use your skills to build a strong economy and with it, a strong democracy. To stabilize this region, we must educate all sectors of society and include all the nations: Christians, Jews, Muslims, groups such as the haredim (ultra-orthodox), the Druze, everyone. Everyone should be an important contribution to the economy. That's the task. Every community should flourish so that Israel will flourish. You must stand on the values that you support. You should insist on what you believe in."

Levin added, "Innovation is real. You must cause it happen at every level of business. The ability to create innovation is the basis of your success. You should know how to take risks. Israel has many entrepreneurs, and this creates very great value. Entrepreneurs create innovation and sell it to big companies. But there will be even greater risk-taking to become a great center."

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on November 20, 2013

© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2013

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