The Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (or Claims Conference) has elected Gregory Schneider as its new executive vice-president. He succeeds Gideon Taylor, who will return to work for the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee. The Claims Conference, which administers German restitution payments to Holocaust survivors, pays out more hundreds of million dollars annually in its Institutional Allocations Program from funds acquired from the sale of heirless Jewish property in the former East Germany.
Schneider has worked for the organization for 14 years, mostly as its chief operating officer. He has also overseen the Institutional Allocations Program since its inception in 1995, facilitating its growth from US$ 90 million allocated in 24 countries to the US$ 190 million allocated in 2009 to benefit Nazi victims in 43 countries.
The Board of Directors elected Schneider unanimously. “I am confident that Mr. Schneider will be an exemplary executive vice-president, guiding the staff with vision for the challenges that lie ahead, and continuing the Claims Conference tradition of strong executive leadership,” said the organization’s chairman, Julius Berman. “He is unquestionably dedicated to serving Jewish victims of Nazism, with a drive and commitment that has resulted in payments to hundreds of thousands of them and groundbreaking social care in more than 40 countries. Mr. Schneider is highly respected by the entire board for his foresight, intellect, and creativity.”
