MEMPHIS, TENN. – Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris announces the appointment of Chris McLean as Chief Financial Officer of Shelby County Government, effective January 15, 2019. Chris McLean is currently the Chief Administrative Officer of Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare and will continue service to Methodist through the end of the year. He replaces Wanda Richards who is retiring after 12 years of service to Shelby County Government.
“As we invest in our children and workforce, the CFO will be critically important to ensuring that Shelby County Government is fiscally strong and in a position to make a maximum impact on lives,” said Mayor Harris. “Chris McLean’s 30 years of experience as finance professional and administrator at Methodist make him the perfect person for this role.”
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.
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, “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 have no doubt that he will be an exemplary member of the Harris Administration.”
Methodist Chief of Staff Cato Johnson added, “Chris is an outstanding leader in the areas of finance administration and budgeting. He’s proven to be an ethical representative of Methodist’s values and will certainly be a model of good leadership in Shelby County.”
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. He 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)