Finance Power Player Jerry Kelsheimer Takes University Hospitals Helm In Cleveland

University Hospitals has tapped Jerry L. Kelsheimer to chair its board, handing the gavel to a seasoned finance executive with deep local ties. The move, effective Wednesday, June 10, 2026, puts Kelsheimer in the seat long held by John G. Morikis, the retired Sherwin-Williams chief executive who led the system’s board in recent years.

Trustees voted at this week’s meeting to elevate Kelsheimer to the top board role, according to Crain's Cleveland Business. The health system’s online board roster, maintained by University Hospitals, now lists him as “Chairman of the Board of University Hospitals, 2026.”

Who Is Jerry Kelsheimer?

Per his profile with Medic Management Group, Kelsheimer serves as president and CEO of the Beachwood-based consulting firm and brings decades of experience in regional banking and health care operations. He previously held senior posts at Fifth Third and Huntington and sits on several civic and nonprofit boards across Northeast Ohio.

Those local connections, paired with his finance-heavy résumé, have made Kelsheimer a familiar presence in University Hospitals' governance, setting him up as a logical choice for the top board role.

John Morikis And The Succession

Kelsheimer steps into a role previously held by John G. Morikis, the retired chairman and CEO of The Sherwin-Williams Company. Sherwin-Williams records show Morikis was elevated to CEO effective January 2016 and emphasize his long-running corporate and civic leadership, experience that carried over into his tenure leading the UH board.

What The Change Could Mean

For a health system the size of UH, the board chair is not just a ceremonial title. The role shapes governance, fundraising strategy, and big-picture decisions about partnerships and growth as the system pursues campus projects and suburban expansion.

Crain's Cleveland Business has followed recent UH moves that put board leadership squarely in the spotlight. With Kelsheimer’s background in banking and health care operations, his tenure is likely to focus the board’s attention tightly on revenue, day-to-day operations, and external partnerships at a time when hospitals across the country are wrestling with thin margins.