Andrew Heller, Chairman of Conservative Friends of Israel, has announced he will be retiring after 13 years and will be succeeded by Stephen Massey from 1st April.
During Andrew’s tenure, CFI has expanded its activities significantly and CFI’s Annual Business Lunches and Conservative Party Conference receptions have become some of the biggest events in the political calendar. The support from across the Conservative Party has been unwavering throughout, with hundreds of Conservative parliamentarians joining CFI delegations to Israel. The organisation has celebrated landmark moments in the UK-Israel relationship, including the centenary of the Balfour Declaration and the proscription of the Hezbollah and Hamas terror groups.
CFI is delighted to confirm that Stephen Massey will become the next Chairman of CFI Ltd. Stephen is well-known within the CFI organisation and the Conservative Party having served as Treasurer of CFI since 2010 and having been a party member for over 40 years. He is a patron of the Hampstead and Kilburn Conservative Association and former constituency Chairman of Hampstead. Professionally, Stephen is Chairman of Canaccord Genuity Ltd, an investment banking and wealth management firm, and deputy chairman of Windmill Hill Asset Management. He will become Chairman of CFI from 1st April ahead of CFI’s first parliamentary delegation to Israel since before the pandemic.
Andrew has been central to the successful expansion of the organisation and its activities, as well as many landmark achievements in the UK-Israel relationship. CFI would like to thank him for everything he has achieved.
Stephen brings an invaluable wealth of experience to the position and we congratulate him on his appointment.
Andrew Heller, CFI outgoing Chairman said: “After a memorable 13 years, I have decided to retire as Chairman of Conservative Friends of Israel. During my time as Chairman, Israel has changed beyond recognition and the support of the Conservative Party for Israel has grown ever stronger. There is so much of which I am proud and it has been a privilege to work with some extraordinarily talented people, both in Parliament and within the CFI offices. I know that I am leaving the organisation in the best position it has ever been and I very much look forward to watching Stephen and the team continuing its success”.
Lord Polak CBE, CFI Honorary President said: “Andrew has made an enormous contribution to CFI in his 13 years as our Chairman. Steering the organisation through a memorable decade in British politics, Andrew leaves CFI in rude health and the UK-Israel relationship stronger than it has ever been. All of us at CFI would like to thank Andrew and congratulate Stephen on his appointment as Chairman as the organisation begins its next chapter”.
Stephen Massey, CFI Treasurer and incoming Chairman said: “I am honoured to become CFI’s next Chairman and lead such a vital organisation. Israel and the Conservative Party are deeply important to me and I relish the opportunity to expand the fantastic relationship between these two great countries. Anyone present at CFI’s Business Lunch in November will have seen the incredible strength of support Israel has within the Party and I am looking forward to shortly resuming our important Israel delegation programme. I am deeply grateful to Andrew for his exemplary leadership of CFI and for all he has achieved with the organisation over the last 13 years”.
