Michael Fisher Announces His Retirement as CEO of Cincinnati Children’s
He will continue to lead until his successor is onboarded
Michael Fisher, president and chief executive officer (CEO), announced that he will retire as Cincinnati Children’s CEO. He plans to continue his role here until a successor is onboarded, which is expected by the end of 2021. Having served as a member of the Board of Trustees beginning in 2004, Michael took the helm as CEO in January 2010, making him the longest-serving CEO among local health systems. His commitment to the health, safety, and well-being of our Cincinnati Children’s employees and organization—and kids in Cincinnati and beyond—will continue to have a profound influence.
“While navigating the changing and challenging medical and research landscape for over a decade, Michael has championed a vibrant and inclusive culture and built an extraordinary team of doctors, nurses, scientists, and other valued employees. He has helped us further elevate excellent and compassionate care, expand services, and increase financial strength— even amid a pandemic. We are grateful and proud of all Michael has achieved—for Cincinnati Children’s as well as kids and families everywhere,” Mark Jahnke, chair of the Board of Trustees, said.
Michael shared that he is looking forward to more life flexibility as well as broadly engaging in the business arena and helping his family in entrepreneurial and investment endeavors.
“My intellectual curiosity and energy have never been greater,” he said. “As I move to this next chapter of my career, my heart and passion will always be for kids, our community and Cincinnati Children’s.”
As a Cincinnati native, Michael has championed many nonprofit and civic causes throughout his career. Currently, he serves on the CEO Public Policy Advisory Committee of the national Children’s Hospital Association and is a board member and past chair of the Ohio Children’s Hospital Association.
A longtime member of the Cincinnati Business Committee, Michael also has played a key role in RESTART, a local taskforce created to ensure the Cincinnati region has a strong and inclusive economic recovery as it regains the momentum it had before the COVID-19 crisis.
Mark Jahnke will lead a national search with the executive search firm Heidrick & Struggles and a committee of Trustees and senior administrative and faculty leaders.