Joe Natoli steps down as UM’s financial chief

Joe Natoli, former president of the Miami Herald and the former publisher of the Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News before joining the University of Miami as its chief financial officer 10 years ago, will step down at the beginning of 2017, the university announced Monday.

“Joe joined the University after a long and successful career in the newspaper business,” UM President Julio Frenk wrote in an email to university staff. “During his decade at UM, revenues doubled to more than $2.8 billion, the University’s annual economic impact grew to more than $6 billion, and it maintained an ‘A’ rating despite significant investment in facilities and programmatic growth.”

Former UM President Donna Shalala, who hired Natoli, said Monday she spent a lot of time recruiting him “because he was one of the most talented leaders and managers.”

“I recruited him like a quarterback,” she said, adding she did not know why Natoli was leaving.

Natoli, 61, senior vice president for business and finance and UM’s chief financial officer, also served as interim chief operating officer of the University of Miami Health System for the last 3 1/2 years. He managed the UM Hospital, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute and UM Medical Group.

A UM spokesperson said he was not taking interview requests.

In the email, Frenk called Natoli’s time at the university “10 years of distinguished service.” He said Natoli will stay with UM until the first quarter of 2017 and help with finding a successor. Afterward, he will advise UM in “a consulting capacity,’’ Frenk wrote.

This story was originally published September 19, 2016 at 7:32 PM with the headline "Joe Natoli steps down as UM’s financial chief."