Jewish HomeLife Names New CEO

Jeffrey A. Gopen to succeed longtime CEO Harley Tabak in April 2022

 ATLANTA (Jan. 10, 2022) Jewish HomeLife President and CEO Harley Tabak will retire at the end of 2022 after two decades of extraordinary service. The senior care organization has named current Chief Operating Officer (COO), Jeffrey A. Gopen, as the new President and CEO beginning April 2022.

This anticipated transition will ensure continuity of the leadership of an essential resource serving the senior population in Metro Atlanta since 1951.

“Harley’s leadership has been instrumental in making Jewish HomeLife one of Metro Atlanta’s leading senior care providers,” said Jeff Berman, Chair of Jewish HomeLife’s Board of Directors. “Jewish HomeLife will go from strength to strength – from Harley’s two decades of leadership to Jeffrey Gopen who was recruited to Jewish HomeLife in a national search as part of our long-term succession planning more than five years ago.”

Through a carefully planned transition, the two leaders will continue in their current roles until April 2022. Tabak will stay on as CEO Emeritus through the end of 2022 to provide ongoing coaching and knowledge transfer to the Jewish HomeLife leadership team. He will also assist with ongoing fundraising efforts and larger projects such as securing financing for the renovation of The Jewish and The Zaban Towers, which is expected to begin in the spring.

Tabak has led Jewish HomeLife through a period of exciting growth. His passion for identifying and then delivering high-quality aging services has taken what was once a small skilled nursing home to a full network of nine senior care services and residential communities supporting every stage of the aging journey, to people of all faiths.

Gopen’s leadership over the past five years, particularly during the recent pandemic, has prepared him for a seamless transition. Through his professional lens as a clinician (DPT) and licensed nursing home administrator (LNHA), he has helped the organization navigate the ever-challenging world of health care.

Additionally, Neelam Rahatekar, Jewish HomeLife’s current Chief Financial Officer will also take on the COO role Gopen vacates when he becomes CEO. Rahatekar has served the organization for 16 years and is a deeply experienced financial and operational leader. Rahatekar will be supported by a newly created Controller position that will take on many CFO duties.

“Jewish HomeLife has a strong leadership team with longevity in their experience and dedication to this organization,” said Berman. “We are grateful for the strong foundation Harley has built and excited about the vision for the future.”

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