Mody kidon

Mody Kidon is chairman of the Israel Advertising Association and President and CEO of the [[BBDO Israel Group (formerly Gitam).

Kidon served as a pilot in the Israeli Air Force attaining the rank of major. He is a graduate of the Tel Aviv School of Economics, and the Advanced Management Program at Harvard University Business School. In 1981, he joined his father, Yochanan Goldberg and cousin Moshe Theumim at Gitam Image Systems. In 1986, he was appointed joint president of Gitam Image Promotion Systems.

In 1990, he was appointed chairman of the Israeli Advertising Association. His period in the chair was hectic and full of struggles to create free competition conditions in the media marketplace with the advent of commercial television. The initiator of competitive commercial advertising, Kidon also served as chairman of the scientific committee that established the Israel television ratings system.

In 1994, Gitam Image Promotion Systems became the first Israeli advertising company to be acquired by an international advertising company – BBDO. In 2004, Kidon became the group's President and CEO. Michal Hameiri was appointed managing director of Gitam/BBDO in his place.

In 1995, Gitam Image Promotion Systems established a partnership with Ehud Samsonov, Amos Shemie (S.G.S.), Gad and Dan Propper (owners of Osem) and the Hamama family, and together they created the real estate company Vitaniia. In 2007 Delek Real Estate invested in the company and became a partner of the founders.

Gitam/BBDO's clients include Osem, Office Depot, Bank Hapoalim, Hogla Kimberly, Tempo, Clal Insurance, Cellcom, Supersol, Wrigley, Tnuva and Netvision 013. Gitam received international advertising awards and the Guinness Prize for the first advert in space for Tnuva milk.

In 2004, Mody Kidon was appointed chairman of the TMF media company.

Under the leadership of Theumim and Kidon the BBDO Group has volunteered its participation in many community projects: The Israel Cancer Association and increased awareness about the illness, the Elem – Youth in Distress in Israel, Degel Ha'Orot (lit. Flag of Lights) campaign, and Nitzan, for children with learning difficulties, etc. Some of these projects have received international recognition and prizes. Kidon is also personally involved in the promotion of the Israel Tennis Center. He is a member of the management committee of the Friends of Sheba Hospital, Tel Hashomer and a member of the marketing committee of the National Science Museum in Haifa.

Mody Kidon is married the television presenter Sharon Kidon and the father of four children, three daughters and a son.