Case Western Reserve makes it permanent: John Sideras is CFO

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Case Western Reserve University has named John Sideras as senior vice president and chief financial officer.

Sideras has served Case in these roles on an interim basis since May. He stepped down from Cleveland’s MetroHealth System as president and chief executive in January 2008.

The private Cleveland university removed the “interim” from Sideras’ titles after he emerged as the top choice for the jobs during a nationwide, six-month search.

“Over the past several months, John has demonstrated the experience and knowledge necessary to lead Case Western Reserve University’s fiscal operations,” the university’s president, Barbara Snyder, said in a written statement. “I am pleased that he has agreed to join our team on a permanent basis.”

Last year, Case said it had erased its $20 million deficit — three years ahead of schedule.

In December, credit rating agency Standard & Poor’s recognized the university’s financial progress by revising the long-term outlook on its credit to “stable” from “negative.” S&P also repeated its AA-minus rating on the university’s long-term debt. This is the agency’s second-highest rating and reflects the university’s “very strong” ability to repay its debts.

Snyder credited Sideras for helping to strengthen financial management and accountability across the university.

“I am grateful for this opportunity to be part of an institution that is so critical to this region’s future,” Sideras said in the statement. “We have made substantial progress together, and I look forward to even greater collective accomplishment in the future.”

Sideras was named president and chief executive of MetroHealth in 2004. MetroHealth is owned by Cuyahoga County and is considered the safety net hospital for the county’s poor and uninsured residents.

Before that, Sideras worked as a finance executive for all three major Cleveland hospital systems — MetroHealth, University Hospitals and the Cleveland Clinic.

Sideras earned his bachelor’s degree from John Carroll University in University Heights, Ohio, and his master’s in business administration from the University of Colorado. He is a certified public accountant in Ohio.