Leslie Wexner to step down from Ohio State Board of Trustees

The Ohio State University trustee Leslie H. Wexner has announced he will step down from his remaining term which ends in May 2020. Alex Shumate, whose second term on the board concluded earlier this year, has been reappointed by Ohio Governor John Kasich to fill the remaining eight years of Wexner’s term.

Wexner, who is chair, president and CEO of Columbus-based Limited Brands, was serving his third term on the Board of Trustees. He was appointed to the board in 2005 and was reappointed in 2011 for a new term to end in 2020. He previously served on the board from 1988-1997, during which time he was chair from 1996-97. This past April, he completed a three-year term as board chair. All told, he has served 18 years on the Board of Trustees.

Board leadership remains unchanged. In February, trustees elected Robert Schottenstein as chair, and Brian K. Hicks and John C. “Jack” Fisher as vice chairs.

Ohio State President E. Gordon Gee says the university has benefited from a remarkably strong board. "Les Wexner has provided extraordinary leadership to the university during times of significant change and progress, and we are grateful for his service. We are also fortunate to continue to have Alex Shumate’s wisdom and guidance."

Last month, Shumate completed his second term (2006-12) on the Board of Trustees. He previously served from 1989-1998 including terms as chair from 1997-98 and vice chair from 2011-2012. Shumate is managing partner, North America, of the international law firm of Squire, Sanders & Dempsey LLP.

Gee also welcomed two new appointees to the board, who were announced earlier by Gov. Kasich. Cheryl Krueger has been appointed to the board for a nine-year term ending in May 2021. Benjamin Reinke, a graduate student from Bowling Green studying nuclear engineering, will serve as a student member of the board for a two-year term ending in May 2014.

"Cheryl Krueger is a fierce advocate for this institution and Ben Reinke has been a significant leader among our students since he entered Ohio State as an undergraduate in 2006. Both Cheryl and Ben will add considerable expertise to the board and provide exceptional leadership in governing this large and complex university."

Krueger was the founder, president and chief executive officer of Cheryl & Co., a multi-million dollar gourmet food and gift corporation, which she sold in 2005. She served as president since the company’s incorporation in 1981 through 2009. She recently founded KRUEGER+CO. Consulting, Inc. and serves as its CEO. Its primary focus is to help companies develop creative marketing and sales strategies as well as evaluate product development pipelines, operations, logistics and financial performance.

Krueger is a graduate of Bowling Green State University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in 1974. She delivered the commencement address at Ohio State’s winter 2012 graduation.

See Gov. Kasich’s news release on the appointments: http://www.governor.ohio.gov/MediaRoom/PressReleases.aspx