From Fintech to Politics: Inside Keren Levy's Role at BeYachad
Former fintech executive Keren Levy explains her transition from leading Payoneer to serving as COO of Naftali Bennett's BeYachad party, focusing on national repair and political infrastructure.
Keren Levy, a prominent figure in the Israeli fintech sector who helped lead Payoneer to a $3.3 billion Nasdaq IPO and managed thousands of employees, left the business world in September 2023 to serve as the Chief Operating Officer of Naftali Bennett’s newly established party, BeYachad. In an interview, Levy explained that abandoning a lucrative corporate career was a deliberate choice aimed at national reconstruction rather than personal political ambition.
Reflecting on her transition, Levy noted that she gave up financial security and corporate status to join what she calls the most critical startup of her career. Having previously worked alongside Bennett early in her professional life at a startup competing with Cyota, Levy did not hesitate to answer his call when discussions about his political return began. She emphasized that she has no intention of running for the Knesset or returning to the tech sector after the upcoming elections, remaining fully committed to the party's operational infrastructure.
Levy described how she and Bennett started building the party from scratch with little more than a laptop and an Excel spreadsheet. Drawing on her extensive experience managing complex crises in the high-tech industry—such as navigating a major banking collapse in Germany that froze hundreds of millions of dollars during her time at Payoneer—she is applying strict managerial principles, metrics, and organizational strategies to the political campaign.
Expressing high confidence in the party's electoral prospects, Levy stated that BeYachad is poised to become the surprise of the upcoming elections. She highlighted the massive influx of volunteers and the methodical, goal-oriented approach instilled by Bennett as core drivers for change, emphasizing that the ultimate objective is to replace the current government and restore effective leadership to the country.
