The Governing Board of the World Jewish Congress (WJC) has elected Ronald S. Lauder as acting president of the organization. At a meeting in New York, delegates representing the affiliates of the WJC elected Lauder, 63, by an overwhelming majority as successor to Edgar M.  Bronfman, who led the organization since 1979.

Governing Board delegates followed the recommendation of the Executive Committee, which had met earlier today in New York and nominated Mr. Lauder.

The next regular election of WJC President by the organization?s Plenary Assembly is due to take place in 2009.

Businessman Matthew Bronfman, who has chaired the WJC Budget and Finance Commission, was elected as new Chairman of the Governing Board.

Addressing delegates in New York, WJC President Lauder said: “This is such an important organization. Let’s do everything we can to make this what it was, glorious.”

Ronald S. Lauder has successfully created and managed investments in the real estate and the media sectors, notably with Central European Media Enterprises, which operates in a number of central and eastern European countries. In 1987, Mr. Lauder established the Ronald S.  Lauder Foundation, a philanthropic organization dedicated to rebuild Jewish communities in Central and Eastern Europe.

He has also been actively involved in numerous civic organizations, including the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, the Jewish National Fund, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, the Anti-Defamation League, the Jewish Theological Seminary, Brandeis University, and the Abraham Fund. From 1986 to 1987 Mr. Lauder served as US ambassador to Austria.