Board of deputies president Jonathan Arkush has revealed he will not become chairman of the Jewish Leadership Council, adding that any merger between the two organisations is currently unlikely.
Mr Arkush said he would not follow his predecessor, Vivian Wineman, in taking up the post.
"My first responsibility is to the Board," he told deputies at a meeting on Sunday. "The Board will still be present at the JLC; I've just chosen not to stand as chair."
He added that while it was important for the Board and the JLC to work together, "the question of a merger seems to be on the distant horizon at the moment".
Mr Arkush downplayed concerns that his refusal to take on the position would lead to more separation between the groups.
The Board president is automatically appointed as a JLC trustee.
Mr Arkush assured deputies that he was working on improving ties between the organisations. He said: "I intend to try to get the relationship between the Board and the JLC right.
"I'm new. I know I was the vice-president for six years, but it was Vivian who played the main role in the Jewish Leadership Council, it wasn't me. I'll act as a trustee, I will be a member of the council of members, so the Board will be present. So I will play my role."
Mr Arkush said his hope was that "the Jewish Leadership Council will recognise the Board's pre-eminent role as the true leadership of the British Jewish community".
He told the meeting that one of the primary goals of his presidency would be radical reform of the Board's constitution.
"There's a general feeling that we need something a bit more root and branch. So those of you who are dyed-in-the-wool traditionalists: hold on to your seats."
Newly elected senior vice-president Richard Verber said the constitution was not fit for purpose in its current form.
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