AKRON, Ohio — FirstEnergy Corp. has announced that Brian X. Tierney has been appointed as its new president and chief executive officer, a sign of a fresh start for the Akron-based utility company amid the House Bill 6 bribery investigation.
In a statement, FirstEnergy says Tierney will assume his new duties effective on June 1. He will succeed interim president and CEO John W. Somerhalder II, who will remain the company's chairman of the board.
Tierney, 55, has worked in the energy industry for 28 years, most notably with Ohio-based American Electric Power Company, Inc. (AEP). During his 23 years at AEP, Tierney held a number of leadership positions, including executive vice president of strategy following more than 11 years as its chief financial officer. Tierney arrives at FirstEnergy having most recently held the post of global head of portfolio operations and asset management for the infrastructure group Blackstone.
"I have dedicated my career to the energy industry, and leading FirstEnergy is a privilege that I am humbled by and a responsibility that I take seriously," Tierney said in a statement. "I believe strongly in the steps the company's board and management have taken to position the business for long-term stability and success, and I look forward to working with them to execute this strategy and build on FirstEnergy's strong operational momentum. I appreciate the board's confidence in me and will do everything I can to serve our customers and communities, keep our employees safe and move FirstEnergy into the future."
The last person to serve as FirstEnergy's CEO without the interim tag was Steve Strah, who stepped down from his executive position last September after less than two years on the job, with officials not giving a specific reason for his departure. Strah added interim CEO to his duties as president in October of 2020 (it became permanent in March of 2021) following the ouster of Chuck Jones, who was implicated in the massive bribery scandal that saw the organization illegally funnel tens of millions of dollars to state politicians in an effort to pass HB 6 and bail out FirstEnergy's nuclear power operator (since spun off as Energy Harbor). The federal probe led to the indictment (and eventual expulsion) of then-Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder along with several other associates, and FirstEnergy later agreed to pay a $230 million fine in exchange for deferred prosecution.
Just over two weeks ago, Householder and former Ohio Republican Party Chair Matt Borges were convicted of conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise involving bribery and money laundering. Both have hinted that they may appeal those convictions.
Editor's Note: The Associated Press and 3News' Tyler Carey contributed to this story.