Our Leadership

Our Leadership

Our Director

Benedetta Buttiglione

Benedetta Buttiglione is the Director of the AJC Transatlantic Institute, leading initiatives to strengthen Israel’s security, combat antisemitism in Europe, and reinforce transatlantic cooperation.

Based in Brussels since 2006, Benedetta has held leadership roles at AJC and the European Parliament, where she has specialized in EU-Israel relations, playing a key role in advancing cooperation on political, security, and economic issues between the EU and Israel. 

A diplomatic leader with extensive experience in transatlantic parliamentary relations, she has built coalitions across NATO Member States, enhancing defense cooperation, countering disinformation, and fostering security dialogue.

In addition to her diplomatic and advocacy work, Benedetta is a journalist and has contributed to Italian media. She also taught International Politics and International Organizations at Tecnológico de Monterrey (Tec de Monterrey), where she shared her expertise on global governance and international relations. Fluent in Italian, Spanish, English, and French, she navigates complex geopolitical landscapes to advance democratic resilience.

Our Chair

Michael L. Tichnor

Michael Tichnor has an extensive 20 year leadership history within AJC.  From 2022-2025 he was AJC's National Pressident. Tichnor  has served AJC nationally on the Board of Governors, on the Executive Council as Chair of Regional Offices, Chair of Leadership Development and Chair of the Strategic Assessment Task Force to prepare AJC for its chief executive transition in October 2022. He most recently served on the Succession Committee. Tichnor began his involvement with AJC serving as AJC New England Regional President and continued as a member of its steering committee.

Professionally Tichnor has been a Boston-based entrepreneur. He was founder and president of Tichnor Properties, Inc., a privately held commercial and industrial real estate company located in southern New England. In addition to other ventures, he was previously a principal and of counsel to a family held leading national consumer paper products company. Currently, he is a private investor.

Tichnor has been involved with many organizations in the Boston Jewish Community, including Combined Jewish Philanthropies (Federation), Congregation Or Atid as its founder, first president and trustee, Metrowest Jewish Day School, and has been active in organizations and institutes that raise awareness of the increased cancer risks caused by genetic defects amongst Ashkenazi Jews.  He has additionally served two terms as an elected member of the Wayland, MA Select Board, having been elected twice as its chair, and was also a member of the town’s Finance Committee.

An attorney, Tichnor received his undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania and his law degree from Boston College Law School. He is married to Karen, a retired special needs teacher.  They have three married children and eight grandchildren.