Central Ohio billionaire Les Wexner is stepping down as chair of the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center Board after continued scrutiny over his relationship with the late convicted child sex offender and disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Wexner, 88, will remain on the board as chair emeritus, but he is no longer a voting member, university spokesperson Ben Johnson said. 

“Les Wexner has stepped back from his role as chair …. Les and Abigail have been great supporters of the university for many years, and we appreciate his ongoing service on the committee,” Johnson said in a statement. 

The Ohio State University Medical Center was renamed the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in 2012. Wexner was appointed chair in 2013, but has not been at a board meeting since May 2025. 

A spokesperson for Wexner declined to comment. 

Robert Schottenstein will likely replace Wexner’s place as chair, according to a resolution set to be approved at the Sept. 1 meeting. 

“New board chairs always refresh the committee structure and appointments,” Johnson said in a statement. 

Schottenstein is the chief executive officer and president of Columbus-based M/I Homes, Inc. He was a trustee of Ohio State University from 2005-2014 and served as chairman of the board from 2012-2014. 

Schottenstein did not respond to a request for comment by the Ohio Capital Journal. 

Wexner and Epstein

Wexner, the billionaire founder of L Brands who lives in New Albany, was deposed by members of Congress in February about his relationship with Epstein.

Wexner was listed as an alleged co-conspirator of Epstein’s in a 2019 FBI document. The same document listing Wexner as a co-conspirator says there is “limited evidence of his involvement.”

U.S. House Democrats accused Wexner of facilitating Epstein’s alleged sex trafficking ring. Wexner has denied any wrongdoing. 

Epstein — who died by suicide in a New York jail 2019 after being arrested on federal sex trafficking charges — was Wexner’s personal financial adviser from 1987 to 2007, during which time Epstein reportedly misappropriated millions of dollars. 

Wexner graduated from Ohio State in 1959 and went on to found L Brands in 1963, which created Victoria’s Secret, Bath & Body Works, and Abercrombie & Fitch. Schottenstein previously served as a member of the board of L Brands. 

Wexner previously served on the Ohio State University Board of Trustees, including as the chairman, and was also a founding member of The Ohio State University Foundation. 

Les and his wife Abigail Wexner, and the Limited Brands Foundation, have given, raised or pledged more than $200 million, Johnson said. 

Ohio State University has received 500 requests to remove Wexner’s name from university buildings, which remain under consideration, Johnson said. 

The name requests are not related to Wexner stepping down as chair, Johnson said. 

In addition to the Wexner Medical Center, Wexner’s name is on two other buildings at Ohio State. 

The Wexner Center for the Arts is named after Les’ late father Harry Wexner. 

Wexner’s name is on the Les Wexner Football Complex at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. 

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This story is republished from the Ohio Capital Journal under a Creative Commons license. View the original article.