Phil Rosenberg confirms he is standing to become next Board president

Brondesbury Park Synagogue deputy Phil Rosenberg has become the first publicly to declare his candidacy for the presidency of the Board of Deputies elections next year.

He announced his intention to stand at the same time as he hosted a session at the Limmud 2023 Festival in Birmingham on Tuesday.

Current president Marie van der Zyl comes to the end of her tenure in May 2024, when she will reach the end of her two-term limit.

Rosenberg, who led the organisation’s public affairs team through the Jeremy Corbyn years, Covid and Brexit, has subsequently gone on to senior roles at leading advocacy, communications and campaigns agencies.

At 38, if elected, he would be the youngest ever president of the Board.

Confirming his was standing said: “The UK Jewish community faces unparalleled challenges going into 2024. As the democratic representative body of the UK Jewish community, the Board of Deputies will need leadership with energy, ideas, vision and experience to take it on the next stage of its journey.

“Having worked closely with all four living presidents of the Board of Deputies, served all four of its Divisions, and overseen its advocacy and policy functions, I believe that I am uniquely placed to build on the strengths of the Board over the coming years.”

Among his key themes that he hopes will get him elected into the role are pursuing a policy of “zero antisemitism” and of “standing up for Israel’s peace and security”.

He is also pledging to “enhance the Board’s democracy”.

After leaving the Board, Rosenberg worked for public relations firm The PR Office, before moving to his current role with Fleetwood Strategy.

He previously served as a Labour councillor in the London Borough of Camden, and has a current role on the Board of Deputies’ finance and organisation division.

His decision to confirm his intention to stand for the role early surprised some deputies on Tuesday evening. One senior Board official told Jewish News they now expected other names to follow next week as contenders for the role.