The 2026 Los Angeles Executive Leadership Awards have honored a group of executives recognized for their significant contributions across multiple sectors in the region, highlighting leadership that has driven growth, innovation, and community impact. Among this year’s distinguished recipients are Vidhyashankaran (Vid) Shivaram, Chief Financial Officer at PIH Health, and Maeesha Merchant, executive vice president, chief operating officer, and chief financial officer at the Colburn School.

Shivaram, who has been with PIH Health since 2011 and assumed the role of CFO in 2021, has played a pivotal role in stabilizing and growing the nonprofit healthcare network during challenging times. PIH Health operates three hospitals, outpatient facilities, and a multispecialty group serving about three million residents across Los Angeles and Orange counties with an annual budget exceeding $1.7 billion. Under his leadership, the organization navigated financial recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic, returning to a positive margin while maintaining a stable A rating from S&P. Shivaram has overseen enterprise finance, revenue cycle management, supply chain initiatives, and real estate operations. He renegotiated health plan agreements, expanded lines of credit, and refinanced $300 million in debt, while supply chain improvements are projected to save $12 million over five years.

In addition to financial strategies, Shivaram guided PIH Health through a systemwide cyberattack, a national intravenous drug shortage, and adaptations to evolving federal healthcare policies. He was instrumental in shaping the health system’s five-year strategic plan, securing approximately $170 million in off-balance-sheet financing for an Energy-as-a-Service project expected to yield $5 million in annual utility savings. He also supported financing for a new medical office building and the implementation of an Epic electronic health record system. His healthcare administration background includes a master’s degree from the University of Southern California and a dentistry degree from Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University in India.

Maeesha Merchant has brought more than two decades of global expertise in operations, finance, and strategic leadership to her roles at the Colburn School, a leading performing arts institution located in Los Angeles. Since joining Colburn in 2020, Merchant has overseen the organization’s recovery from pandemic impacts and driven its strategic transformation. She developed an operational roadmap that has helped double total assets to nearly $1 billion, supported by disciplined investment management and a major capital campaign.

Among Merchant’s achievements is her leadership in the $400 million expansion of Colburn’s facilities, designed by architect Frank Gehry. She negotiated the project’s Guaranteed Maximum Price, yielding about $15 million in savings and reducing financial risks. As CFO, she restructured the school’s debt, netting approximately $50 million in savings and contributing to Colburn’s inaugural S&P bond rating upgrade to AA. Merchant has also advanced the institution’s capital campaign to over 80% of its goal, including securing a $200 million lead gift and multiple seven-figure donations.

Merchant, who holds three degrees from the University of Pennsylvania’s Jerome Fisher Program—including a BS in Finance and a BAS in Biomedical Science—also serves as chief executive of the Colburn Center, overseeing strategy and operations for performances and events. Her leadership extends into the community through board memberships with NACUBO, the CFO Executive Summit Advisory Board, and nonprofits supporting Southern California. She was recently honored as the 2024 CFO of the Year by the Los Angeles Business Journal.

Together, Shivaram and Merchant exemplify the dynamic leadership fueling economic, cultural, and healthcare advancements across Los Angeles County, reinforcing the region’s role as a hub of innovation and resilience.