Cleveland Heights Native To Lead Jewish Humanitarian Organization

The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee has selected Alan Gill, a Cleveland Heights native, as its next CEO.

The global Jewish humanitarian organization works in more than 70 countries to help people suffering from hunger and hardship, rescue Jews in danger, revitalize Jewish life and provide assistance for victims of natural disasters and help in other emergency situations.

Gill, an Ohio University alum, has worked for the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) for two decades, and is currently the executive director of international relations. He will move from his home in Jerusalem to New York with his wife, Rhona, before taking the new role on Jan. 31, 2013.

“I’m privileged to be appointed CEO of this remarkable, dynamic organization. Our mission has never been more critical or more urgent, and in the years ahead, we must reach even further to ensure that wherever a Jew is in need, JDC is there,” Gill said in a news release. "Now is the moment when we take a lead in shaping the Jewish future — connecting Jews around the world, innovating Jewish community life, and vigorously responding to the challenges we face with collective Jewish action."

Some of Gill's accomplishments over the past 20 years were outlined in the announcement about his new position with the organization.

"Gill also served as a special adviser to the organization’s Former Soviet Union operations and was a member of JDC’s emergency relief team during the 2008 Russia-Georgia war, providing urgently needed assistance to elderly Jews trapped behind the Russian lines," according to the announcement.

Before working with the JDC, Gill was CEO of the Jewish Federation of Columbus, Ohio, where he created group homes for Jewish adults with special needs and established a statewide Hillel funding consortium for Jewish college students in Ohio.

Gill, who attended The Ohio State University and earned a master's in social work, founded the school's graduate training program for Jewish Communal Service and was a part-time professor in the College of Social Work.