MEMPHIS, TENN. – The Shelby County Commission approves Chris McLean as Director for the Division of Administration and Finance of Shelby County Government.
McLean is currently the Chief Administrative Officer for Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, a not-for-profit multi-hospital system with operating revenues of $2 billion. Prior to that role, he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Methodist from 2001-2017. McLean began his healthcare career at Methodist in 1984 in corporate finance. He left in 1992 to work for several health systems in East Tennessee and returned to Methodist in 1998 as vice president of its Mississippi division.
Several other nominations to various boards were approved by the full Shelby County Commission:
Jim Holt to serve on the Memphis & Shelby County Air Pollution Control Board. Holt is currently an Air Pollution Projects Engineer for FedEx and has more than 20 years experience in air pollution monitoring.
Randall Womack to serve on the Memphis & Shelby County Air Pollution Control Board. Womack is an attorney at Glankler Brown and has practiced environmental law for more than 25 years.
Robert Simpson to serve on the Memphis & Shelby County Air Pollution Control Board. Simpson is an Environmental Manager for Nucor Steel and previously was an Environmental Engineer team leader for Tennessee Valley Authority.
Mendi Shull to serve on the Shelby County Emergency Communications Control Board. Shull has more than 25 years experience in emergency communications including as a 911 operator, police radio dispatcher, and a communications training officer and supervisor. Shull is an Executive Board Member of the Communications Workers of American Local 3806.
Uday Sripathi to serve on the Memphis & Shelby County Film & Television Commission. Sripathi has worked on many films, documentaries, shows, and news stories for FedEx, NBC, CNN, HLN, Discovery Channel, BBC, ITV, MTV, and Channel News Asia.
John Jackson III to serve on the Shelby County Conservation Board. Jackson has practiced Landscape Architecture and Planning for more than 30 years.
The approval of McLean marks a key appointment to the Harris administration.
“As we invest in our children and workforce, the CFO will be critically important to ensuring that Shelby County Government is fiscally strong and able to make maximum impact on lives,” said Mayor Harris. “Chris McLean’s 30 years of experience as a finance professional and administrator at Methodist make him the perfect person for this role.”
Throughout his management career, McLean has had direct responsibility and oversight over numerous financial areas including financial reporting, financial planning, internal auditing, negotiation of major contractual agreements and investments.
Methodist Le Bonheur’s leadership enthusiastically supports the appointment.
Dr. Michael Ugwueke, President and Chief Executive Officer of Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare offered, “Chris let us know last year that he planned to retire from Methodist at the end of 2018 so we are well prepared for a smooth transition, but he will definitely be missed. Chris is an outstanding mission-driven leader and will certainly be an asset for Shelby County.”
Methodist Chief of Staff Cato Johnson added, “While we will greatly miss Chris’s positive impact at Methodist, we wish him well as the new Chief Financial Officer for Shelby County Government. I am confident that he will be an exemplary member of the Harris Administration.”
Transition Co-Chairman Paul Morris, who led the search for CFO said, “Mayor Harris attracted several exceptionally qualified candidates to apply for this role. Chris's depth of financial and administrative experience distinguishes him. We are fortunate that he desires to serve the County. I consider him the perfect complement to Mayor Harris's developing leadership team.”
McLean earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Christian Brothers University and a Master in Business Administration from the University of Memphis.
As an active member of the community, McLean serves as a board member of the Village of Germantown Senior Housing, Medical Education and Research Institute (MERI), and Seeding Success. He is also a past board chair for Leadership Memphis and past board member for Wesley Housing. In addition, McLean is a member of the CFO Roundtable.
“I have always had a heart for public service and consider this a great opportunity to join an administration that is laser-focused on positively impacting the lives of its constituents,” said McLean. “This is a great opportunity for me to serve residents across our County, and I’m happy to be a part of this New Era.”
McLean will begin serving Shelby County Government as the Director of Administration & Finance in January. Current CFO Wanda Richards has delayed her planned retirement and will serve in an interim capacity until McLean transitions from Methodist.
(end of release)