The Jewish Leadership Council has formally approved Jonathan Goldstein as its new chairman, succeeding Sir Mick Davis who stepped down after eight years.

The JLC’s membership elected Mr Goldstein, 50, the sole candidate, on Tuesday night.

Mr Goldstein, who is chief executive of an international property investment company, Cain Hoy, and has chaired the JLC’s education division, Partnerships for Jewish Schools, said he was “honoured to take on the role of JLC chair and am excited about the opportunity to take the organisation forward”.

Steven Lewis, chairman of Jewish Care, was re-elected as a trustee, while Hilda Worth, chairman of Jewish Women’s Aid, takes a seat at the JLC’s top table for the first time.

They defeated Paul Charney, chairman of the Zionist Federation, and Michael Ziff, president of Maccabi GB, in elections.

Simon Johnson, JLC chief executive, said he was confident that the trustees, “ together with Jonathan, will continue to drive the JLC forward in the community and take it to new heights”.

In his manifesto, Mr Goldstein has made it a priority to save charity money by encouraging greater collaboration among the many Jewish organisations.