After formally stepping down as its chairman, Les Wexner appeared at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center Board of Trustees meeting on Sept. 1 for the first time in more than a year.
Wexner was seated at the head of the board table for its quarterly meeting at the Longaberger Alumni House, between Ohio State President Ravi Bellamkonda and Wexner Medical Center CEO John Warner. Ohio State Board of Trustees Chair Jeff Kaplan was also at the head of the table.
Wexner last appeared at a board meeting in May 2025, and it was the only meeting he attended that year. Wexner attended three of the four meetings held in 2024. He had not attended the prior two board meetings in 2026.
Wexner announced Aug. 20 that he would step down as chair of the
board that he helped found more than a decade ago.
In remarks before the board broke for an executive session, Wexner discussed his time as chair and apologized for his absence.
Wexner estimated that he's spent thousands of hours over the last 40 years working with Ohio State. He said he takes all of his community obligations "very seriously."
"Even if I'm not at meetings, my head goes with me everywhere I am," Wexner said.
Wexner apologized for "missing a few meetings," noting that he schedules himself out about two years in advance. He said he spends time every week talking with board members.
"For me, the least productive time, and this is 40 years of history with Ohio State, is in board meetings," Wexner said.
Wexner is not disappearing entirely from the board bearing his name and that he's chaired since 2013. The New Albany billionaire is staying on as chair emeritus, Ohio State spokesperson Ben Johnson previously told The Dispartch. The position keeps him on the board, but he is no longer a voting member.
Robert Schottenstein, CEO of Columbus-based M/I Homes, will take over as chairman, according to a resolution approved at the Sept. 1 meeting. Kara Trott, current board trustee and founder of Columbus-based Quantum Health, will become vice chairwoman.
Wexner praised for leadership of Medical Center board
Several university leaders praised Wexner for his 13 years of service on the Medical Center board.
Warner said Ohio State saw the number of first-year medical students increase from 192 to 224 and the number of medical student applications rise from 5,400 to more than 10,000 during Wexner's time as chair.
"No one surpasses his loyalty or passion for this place," Schottenstein said of Wexner. He noted that in 2013, when Wexner took over leadership of the Medical Center board, "we had less than 15 days cash on hand ... and we didn't even know it." Through Wexner's leadership, the Medical Center is what it is today, he said.
Scottenstein repeatedly thanked Wexner, adding: "There is no better Buckeye."
The comment was followed by a standing ovation for Wexner from among the board members, other Ohio State officials and others present.
Wexner has been under renewed fire after millions of records were released by the U.S. Department of Justice, further detailing his already well-documented relationship with Epstein. Epstein was facing federal charges for alleged child sex trafficking in Florida and New York when authorities say he died by suicide in jail in 2019.
Epstein acted as Wexner's financial adviser for decades and at one point had power of attorney for him. The New Albany businessman has said he cut ties with Epstein in 2007 after discovering Epstein had stolen money from him.
However, federal records show they were in touch in 2008, the same year Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting sex from a minor. Federal lawmakers deposed Wexner at his New Albany home in February over his connection to Epstein.
Hundreds of Ohio State faculty, students, medical center staff and community members have called for Wexner's name to be removed from university and medical center facilities. Bellamkonda told reporters on Aug. 24.
Dispatch reporter Samantha Hendrickson contributed to this article.
Higher education reporter Sheridan Hendrix can be reached at shendrix@dispatch.com and on Signal at @sheridan.120. You can follow her on Instagram at @sheridanwrites.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Les Wexner appears at first OSU medical center board meeting since May 2025
