Rich Mendola, enterprise chief information officer and senior vice provost for information technology (IT), has been named the new vice president and chief information officer for Johns Hopkins University and Johns Hopkins Medicine, effective March 15.
Mendola has led the IT organization for Emory University and Emory Healthcare since 2005, focused on enabling collaboration, synergy, innovation and security across the enterprise. He also served as the university's interim executive vice president for business and administration in 2015.
Mendola’s departure was announced Jan. 30 in a joint message from Christopher L. Augostini, executive vice president for business and administration and chief financial officer for Emory University and vice chair of the Emory Healthcare Board of Directors; Ravi V. Bellamkonda, Emory University provost and executive vice president for academic affairs; and Ravi Thadhani, Emory University executive vice president for health affairs, executive director of the Woodruff Health Sciences Center, and vice chair of the Emory Healthcare Board of Directors.
“Emory has made great strides in our information technology structure and security under Rich’s leadership,” the message noted, including:
- Consolidation of multiple IT divisions into a single unified IT structure;
- Creation of enterprise information security and research IT divisions;
- Alignment of communication systems across the university and health care;
- Creation of the Emory Center for Digital Scholarship; and
- A partnership with Georgia Tech that led to a state-of-the-art library services center.
“While Rich’s dedication, leadership, and creativity will be missed, we are excited for him to have an opportunity to lead at another of the country’s preeminent universities and nationally recognized health care systems,” Augostini, Bellamkonda and Thadhani said.
Ellis to serve as interim leader
John Ellis will serve as Emory’s interim enterprise chief information officer and senior vice provost for information technology. Currently serving as deputy CIO, Ellis has held multiple leadership positions and has made significant contributions to Emory by transforming the IT division into what it is today.
“Through the relationships that John has built across the enterprise over the past 20 years, he is well-regarded, trusted and respected by leaders and staff throughout Emory,” Augostini, Bellamkonda and Thadhani said. “John’s combination of knowledge, skills and reputation positions him to provide the continuity of leadership and quality of service required for this very important role.”