Jewish CEO targeted by shareholder’s antisemitic attacks

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The former CEO of an ASX-listed AI company, Idan, has spoken out after being subjected to a barrage of antisemitic abuse from the company’s largest shareholder.

The attacks, first reported by The Daily Telegraph, referred to the October 7 atrocities in Israel and targeted Idan’s Jewish heritage and his role as a reserve officer in the Israeli Defence Force (IDF), leaving him humiliated and shaken.

The shareholder, Perth businessman Rolf Voulon, used WhatsApp, Facebook, and public forums to send messages accusing Jews of being “murderous c***ts” and falsely alleging Idan’s involvement in war crimes. One message referenced a fabricated arrest warrant for Idan and others. On the stock trading forum HotCopper, Voulon, posting under the alias Diabloracer, publicly questioned Idan’s military background and raised concerns about his leadership as CEO during his IDF reserve duties.

Voulon also sent Idan a message from a news bulletin stating the International Criminal Court (ICC) had issued arrest warrants for Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former defence minister Yoav Gallant, and former Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif over alleged war crimes. According to Idan, the message was intended to suggest that, as a former IDF major, he too was implicated, with an arrest warrant purportedly issued against him.

Idan, who requested his last name be withheld for safety reasons, expressed deep distress over the harassment. He described the abuse as the worst he has ever faced, saying it focused entirely on his religion and Israeli heritage rather than his professional achievements. He noted that in recent months, antisemitic rhetoric has become more frequent, with longstanding stereotypes about Jewish people in finance and power resurfacing.

“Every time I ask it just gets worse,” the outgoing CEO told the Daily Telegraph.
“I’ve never experienced so much racism and anger towards Jews since October 7, I never thought I would say that.
“But throughout the last three years, and more recently in the last few months, the amount of nonsense that I’ve heard about Jews controlling the finance market is incredible,” he said.

The company, UNITH, distanced itself from the situation, stating that Idan had already left his position, and the dispute was personal. Idan, however, pointed out that the attacks had created a climate of fear and were impacting not only him but others who might face similar prejudice in professional environments. He criticised the lack of focus on the company’s technological development in favour of personal attacks rooted in his Jewish identity.

Further details about Voulon’s background have come to light, adding complexity to the controversy. In 2003, the Equal Opportunity Tribunal of Western Australia found Voulon guilty of sexually harassing a former female employee, ordering him to pay damages. More recently, in October 2024, the Supreme Court ordered Voulon to cease using unfair terms in contracts associated with his property management company, Starland Management Pty Ltd. Consumer Protection pursued the case, accusing Voulon of imposing unjust conditions on renters through his business, Perth Room Rentals.

Voulon defended his actions as a quest for transparency, claiming his comments were not antisemitic but focused on Idan’s dual responsibilities in the IDF and as CEO. Critics have dismissed this defence, arguing that the language and tone of the messages perpetuate harmful stereotypes and contribute to a broader culture of discrimination.