United Way CEO taking leave from job

Days after MIDDLETOWN — sending an email to the United Way of Greater Cincinnati’s board of directors, its CEO is taking a leave from his job after he alleged a “hostile work environment” and receiving “subtle threats” from the board’s chair.

CEO Michael Johnson, who was hired four months ago, asked the United Way board leadership for the ability to “spend some time away from the office with his family,” according to WCPO.com, a Journal-News media partner.

United Way board chair Julia Poston, incoming chair Tim Elsbrock and past chair Carl Satterwhite also announced Ross Meyer, United Way’s senior vice president and chief impact officer, was appointed as interim CEO during Johnson’s time off, the statement said.

Johnson remains employed with United Way and there is no timetable for his return.

Teresa Hoelle, spokeswoman for the United Way of Cincinnati, said the agency remains “committed to advancing our critical work of reducing poverty in our region.”

When the Middletown Area United Way hosted a recent discussion on poverty, Johnson was one of the keynote speakers.

The United Way of Greater Cincinnati area also includes the Middletown area, Hamilton, Clermont and Brown counties and portions of northern Kentucky and southeast Indiana.

Leaders of two area United Way agencies refused to comment on Johnson’s leave of absence.

Terry Sherrer, executive director of the Middletown Area United Way, would only say he’s “still committed to the work of the United Way because that’s what the community needs. That is what I am focused on.”

Sherrer declined to comment if the issues would have an impact on the 2018 annual campaign.

Mag Baker, president and CEO of the United Way of Butler County, which isn’t affiliated with the Cincinnati area United Way, had no comment on the senior leadership issues.

“We certainly collaborate with them but we don’t believe it will have an impact on our local campaign,” Baker said.

A message seeking comments was left with officials with the United Way of Warren County.

Johnson sent an email Oct. 26 to the board detailing his concerns about his interactions with Poston and that he had been “misled” during his interview process about the financial challenges facing the organization, according to the email.

“During my interview process, I was not informed about the unprecedented cuts made to United Way staff over the years or the recent campaign trends and cuts we would be facing, plus the role that I would play as your CEO in solving these challenges,” Johnson wrote. “I did not know that this United Way had such financial and structural challenges when I took the job, or that I would have to cut so many jobs to correct these problems.”

This allegation was in addition to being micromanaged by Poston whom he said was “too closely involved in dayto-day hiring decisions at United Way and pressured him to hire someone she knew for a job instead of hiring the candidate he wanted,” according to Johnson’s email.

Johnson also described what he called “subtle threats” from Poston, who told him that “she has fired two male CEO’s” and told him to reduce his presence in the community and on social media, according to the email.

He felt that Poston discriminated against him, according to his email.

WCPO.com previously reported that United Way of Greater Cincinnati is preparing to make cuts as large as 20 percent to the agencies it funds because this year’s campaign is falling short.