Lirit, Partner & COO at FAi, is a highly accomplished professional with nearly three decades of expertise in Israel’s financial sector. After earning a BA in Accounting and Business Management and an MBA from the Management College, Lirit embarked on a remarkable career.

She began as a senior accountant at EY, where she gained extensive experience working with startups and high-tech companies. Following her time at EY, Lirit took on leadership roles as the controller at Gibor Sport (a publicly company) and BSR Europe LTD, showcasing her ability to navigate complex financial landscapes.

Later, Lirit joined Amoz Gazit as CFO and subsequently founded her own CPA firm, Lev & Dvir, which continues to thrive today.

In 2008, Lirit brought her vision and expertise to FAi, partnering with CEO Itzik Lev to establish the FAi (Nextage Tel Aviv office). Her leadership and dedication have been instrumental in shaping the organization, overseeing operations, and mentoring the team. Lirit’s unwavering commitment and strategic acumen make her a cornerstone of FAi’s success.

Gidi has nearly 20 years of financial experience within the Israeli high-tech industry, growing multiple startups and guiding them through fund raising of $MM, and M&As. Prior to Nextage, Gidi served as Chief Financial Officer of Escapex. Prior to Escapex Gidi provided the financial leadership supporting the acquisition of three startups, including MassiveImpact (acquired by General Mobile Corporation; CFO), Amadesa (Acquired by LivePerson; CFO), and Itemfield (acquired by Informatica; VP Finance). Added to this list is a Chief Financial Officer in other start-ups such as Aspect Imaging (Healthcare), and Verix. Gidi is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), holding a bachelor degree in Accounting and Economics from Ben-Gurion University and MBA from Bar-Ilan University, where he majored in Corporate Finance.

Adar is a seasoned CFO with extensive experience in international finance and business operations with over 20 years of practice. During his years in Nextage, Adar is serving as CFO of several high-tech companies in addition to his CFO role in Cerca Partners, a venture capital fund that co-invests in Nextage’s outstanding venture-backed startups. Prior to joining Nextage Adar served as VP Finance of Elbit Imaging Ltd (NASDAQ, TLV: EMITF) and gained a vast experience in fundraising processes, business operations and implementation of internal procedures and controls. In addition, Adar served as CFO in Rhodium – a VC that invests in early-stage ventures. Adar is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) that holds a Bachelor degree in Accounting and Economics from Tel-Aviv University.

Sarit has over 20 years of experience as a senior finance manager and CFO having led IPOs, M&As and financing rounds. She joined the Nextage team in 2020 working with a wide range of technology and VC clients including Cerca, Nextage’s venture capital fund partner. She has a wealth of experience in the media and ad-tech industries having worked, prior to joining Nextage, as CFO at HighQ, and financial controller and senior finance manager at PLYmedia and Reshet.tv. Prior to that Sarit worked for Ernst & Young. Sarit holds an MBA degree with a specialty in finance from the University of Manchester and is a CPA having completed her training at the College of Management Academic Studies.

Raanan has three decades in finance and management with  almost 30 years in senior financial leadership roles. He started in audit at PwC and Ernst & Young, served as CFO of several companies, and then moved into outsource financial management. He has served as outsource CFO to many companies in the Israeli hi-tech ecosystem and led the Financial Outsource Services division at BDO. His CFO roles include private companies such as Beaconspark, Innovopro, Cytegic, Scopio Labs and ASOCS and publicly listed companies such as Shelron and Safer-Shot on Nasdaq and Nordan Technologies on the TASE. He has led many M&A and exit transactions and raised more than $150 million in multiple rounds of financing. Prior to joining Nextage he was Group CFO of Gefen Technologies and led the group’s IPO on the Australian Stock Exchange. Raanan holds a BA (in Economics and Accounting), an MBA from Tel Aviv University and is a lecturer at the Finance Academy, Bar Ilan University, and several other financial institutions.

Ilan is a certified CPA with over 12 years’ experience working in a range of senior financial management contexts. He has been a member of the FAi team since 2020 where he serves as a VP Finance and heads up the financial planning and analysis division for Nextage Tel Aviv (today FAi). Prior to FAi, Ilan held several senior finance roles including Director of Finance for Walla! News, Head of Professional practice for foreign investors in the Ministry of Economy where he advised multinational companies (such as intel, HP, GE and others) regarding financial regulatory issues, and Senior Analyst in the Planning Department of the Ministry of Defense. Ilan holds an MSc degree in Financial Mathematics from Bar Ilan University and a BA degree in Economics and Accounting from the University of Haifa.

FAi’s Chief of Staff, Yael Topaz, has two decades of experience in Israel’s financial sector.

Yael’s career began at KPMG as an auditor, where she worked with Israeli startups. Yael then joined FAi where she has worked ever since, serving first as Senior Director of Finance and then moving into her current role as Chief of Staff. At FAi, Yael oversaw the successful launch and acquisition of several leading Israeli companies including Cloudendor (acquired by Amazon), Incapsula (acquired by Imperva) and FasterWeb (acquired by Limelight).

Yael is a Certified Public Accountant with a degree in accounting and finance from Bar Ilan university.

Ronit Kazoom leads FAi’s Payroll Department, bringing over 30 years of unparalleled expertise and leadership in payroll management.

Throughout her career, Ronit has demonstrated exceptional professionalism and a deep understanding of payroll systems and processes. She began her journey as a payroll manager, quickly establishing herself as a skilled expert in her field. She then advanced to a role as a head of payroll and bookkeeping department at a prestigious accounting firm before joining FAi’s Payroll department.

Ronit’s decades of experience are enhanced by a wide array of professional certifications, reflecting her commitment to excellence and continuous learning. Her meticulous attention to detail, strategic thinking, and ability to implement efficient payroll solutions have earned her widespread recognition in the industry.

Kati Hanukaev is FAi’s Bookkeeping Department Manager. She graduated from the Rishon Lezion College of Management Academic Studies with a degree in bookkeeping.

Kati started at FAi 11 years ago as a bookkeeper on the FAi accounting team – the department which she now proudly manages.

Across her career, Kati has had the opportunity to work with a variety of leading startups and high-tech companies including Feedvisor, Twist Bioscience, Insights Partners, and Spikenow.

Moran Raz serves as the Human Resources Manager at FAi, a role in which she has demonstrated exceptional expertise and leadership for nearly seven years. Moran brings a wealth of experience to her position, encompassing management, recruitment, consulting, talent management, and employee relations.

Her professional journey began at M. Firon & Co., a prominent law firm, where she gained invaluable insights into organizational operations and employee dynamics. She then further honed her expertise as a recruiter at Danel HR (Adir Yehoshua) Ltd., where she successfully matched top talent with critical business needs.

A lifelong learner and passionate about empowering people, Moran holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and Management from the Ruppin Academic Center. Her dedication to fostering inclusive and supportive workplace environments has positioned her as a pivotal force behind FAi’s human resources strategy and organizational success.

As Head of Operations at FAi for nearly four years, Shahaf leads the company’s strategic operational processes, focusing on driving efficiency and fostering cross-functional collaboration. She is directly responsible for managing the IT department and also oversees the customer onboarding process, ensuring a smooth and seamless experience for new clients.

Shahaf holds a bachelor’s degree in Behavioural Sciences with a specialization in Human Resources from The Academic College of Tel Aviv-Yaffo. She has also earned certifications in Technical Project Management from the Hebrew University and Product Operations Management from Jolt.io. Her blend of strategic thinking and hands-on execution supports the company’s continuous growth and operational excellence.