Board of Directors

Michael J. Anderson
Chairman of the board of directors of The Andersons, Inc.
Director of FirstEnergy since 2007.
Committees: Audit (Chair), Finance
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Full profile
Business Experience: Chairman of the board of directors of The Andersons, Inc., a diversified public company with interests in the grain, ethanol and plant nutrient sectors of U.S. agriculture, as well as in railcar leasing and repair and turf products production, since 2016. He also served as CEO and chairman of the board of directors from 2009 to 2015 and chief executive officer from 1999 to 2015, of The Andersons, Inc. Director of FirstEnergy since 2007.
Other Attributes, Experience and Skills: Anderson received an M.B.A. in Finance and Accounting from the Northwestern University Kellogg Graduate School of Management and was a Certified Public Accountant. He participated in the Harvard Advanced Management Program. Anderson was an auditor for Arthur Young & Co. In 1996, he became president and chief operating officer of The Andersons, Inc., and he is currently that company’s chairman. Anderson’s experience in the accounting and executive management areas are invaluable assets for FirstEnergy's Board.

Steven J. Demetriou
Chairman, chief executive officer and a director of Jacobs Engineering Group Inc.
Director of FirstEnergy since 2017.
Committees: Finance (Chair); Operations and Safety Oversight
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Full profile
Business Experience: Chair, chief executive officer and director of Jacobs Engineering Group Inc., a provider of technical professional services, including consulting, technical, scientific and project delivery for the government and private sector, since August 2015. Chairman and chief executive officer (from 2004 to 2015) of Aleris Corporation, a manufacturer of aluminum rolled products. Demetriou served as a director (from 2008 to 2014) and non-executive chairman (from 2011 to 2014) of Foster-Wheeler AG; director of the OM Group (from 2005 to 2015); and director of Kraton Corporation (from 2009 to 2017). Director of FirstEnergy since 2017.
Other Attributes, Experience and Skills: Demetriou received his Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from Tufts University. He has extensive experience in leadership and senior management roles, including the role of chief executive officer. In addition, he brings experience in a variety of industries, including engineering, construction and oil and gas. His extensive executive and board experience has equipped him with leadership skills and the knowledge of board processes and functions. This experience qualifies him to serve as a member of the FirstEnergy Board.

Julia L. Johnson
President of NetCommunications, LLC.
Director of FirstEnergy since 2011.
Committees: Corporate Governance and Corporate Responsibility (Chair); Finance
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Full profile
Business Experience: President of NetCommunications, LLC, a national regulatory and public affairs firm focusing primarily on energy and telecommunications regulation, since 2000. Johnson serves as a director of the following three other public companies: American Water Works Company, Inc., MasTec, Inc., and NorthWestern Corporation. Director of FirstEnergy since 2011.
Other Attributes, Experience and Skills: Johnson received her law degree from the University of Florida College of Law after graduating from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science in business administration. She is a former chairman and commissioner of the Florida Public Service Commission, which provides her with valuable insight into the electric utility industry. In her current position as president of NetCommunications, LLC, she develops strategies for achieving objectives through advocacy directed at critical decision makers. She previously served as senior vice president of Communications and Marketing at Milcom Technologies and also has additional public company board experience. Johnson’s extensive regulatory background, legal experience and additional board experience qualify her to serve as a member of FirstEnergy's Board.

Jesse A. Lynn
General counsel of Icahn Enterprises L.
Director of FirstEnergy since 2021.
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Full Profile
Business Experience: General counsel of Icahn Enterprises L.P., a diversified holding company engaged in a variety of businesses, including investment, automotive, energy, food packaging, metals, real estate and home fashion, since 2014. Lynn also serves as a director of the following companies: Cloudera, Inc., and Conduent Incorporated. Director of FirstEnergy since March 2021.
Other Attributes, Experience and Skills: Lynn received a B.A. from the University of Michigan and a J.D. from the Boston University School of Law. He has extensive experience in a variety of businesses, including investment, automotive, energy, food packaging, metals, real estate and home fashion. Prior to his current position, Lynn was Assistant General Counsel of Icahn Enterprises (from 2004 to 2014). Prior to joining Icahn Enterprises, Lynn worked as an associate in the New York office of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C. in its business and finance department and as an associate in the corporate group at Gordon Altman Butowsky Weitzen Shalov & Wein. Lynn’s legal experience and his experience in a variety of industries along with his broad business skills make him a valuable member of the FirstEnergy Board.

Donald T. Misheff
Retired as managing partner of the Northeast Ohio offices of Ernst & Young LLP.
Non-executive chairman of the FirstEnergy Board since May 2018. Director of FirstEnergy since 2012.
Committees: Audit; Corporate Governance and Corporate Responsibility
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Full profile
Business Experience: Non-executive Chairman of the Board since May 2018. Retired in 2011 as managing partner (position held since 2003) of the Northeast Ohio offices of Ernst & Young LLP, a public accounting firm. He serves as a director of the following two other public companies: TimkenSteel Corp. and Trinseo S.A. Director of FirstEnergy since 2012.
Other Attributes, Experience and Skills: Misheff graduated from The University of Akron with a major in accounting and is a Certified Public Accountant. As the managing partner of the Northeast Ohio offices of Ernst & Young LLP from 2003 until his retirement in 2011, he advised many of the region’s largest companies on financial and corporate governance issues. He began his career with Ernst & Young LLP in 1978 as part of the audit staff and later joined the tax practice, specializing in accounting/financial reporting for income taxes, purchase accounting, and mergers and acquisitions. He has extensive experience performing, reviewing and overseeing the audits of financial statements of a wide range of public companies. Misheff’s vast financial and corporate governance experience, together with his extensive experience with a wide range of public companies provides an excellent background for his current position as FirstEnergy's non-executive Chairman of the Board.

Thomas N. Mitchell
Chairman of the World Association of Nuclear Operators.
Director of FirstEnergy since 2016.
Committees: Corporate Governance and Corporate Responsibility; Operations and Safety Oversight (Chair)
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Full profile
Business Experience: Chairman of the World Association of Nuclear Operators, an independent, nonprofit organization established to promote the highest standards of nuclear safety, since 2019. Retired in 2015 as the president, chief executive officer and director (positions held since 2009) of Ontario Power Generation Inc. (“OPG”), an Ontario-based electricity generation company. He is also a former director and member of the leadership and compensation committee of the Electric Power Research Institute, an independent, nonprofit organization for public interest energy and environmental research. Director of FirstEnergy since 2016.
Other Attributes, Experience and Skills: Mitchell received his undergraduate degree in Engineering (Nuclear and Thermal Sciences) from Cornell University, his Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from George Washington University and his LLD (Hon) from University of Ontario Institute of Technology, which is an honorary degree. He has extensive experience as a senior utility executive in the operation, modification and construction of nuclear, hydroelectric and thermal power stations. Prior to his most recent executive position at OPG, he held progressively more responsible leadership roles before being named the site vice president at the Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station and Pickering Nuclear Generating Station, where he was responsible for the safe and reliable operations of the stations. He also served as a vice president for the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations and as a Lieutenant (Naval Reactors) in the US Navy. His experience in the nuclear industry also provides him substantial experience in physical security and cybersecurity. Mitchell’s engineering, environmental, regulatory, physical security and cybersecurity, safety and industry experience, along with his broad leadership and business skills, are essential to the FirstEnergy Board.

James F. O’Neil III
Principal owner of Forefront Solutions, LLC.
Director of FirstEnergy since 2017.
Committees: Compensation (Chair); Operations and Safety Oversight
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Full profile
Business Experience: Chief executive officer and vice chairman of Orbital Energy Group (formerly known as CUI Global Inc.,.), a company focused on acquisition and development of innovative companies to create a diversified energy services platform. Principal owner of Forefront Solutions, LLC, which provides consulting services primarily to the energy infrastructure industry, since October 2017. Former president, chief executive officer and director of Quanta Services, Inc., a provider of specialty contracting services to the electric power and oil and gas industries (from 2011 to 2016). Director of FirstEnergy since 2017.
Other Attributes, Experience and Skills: O’Neil received his Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from Tulane University. His has extensive leadership and senior management experience, including the role of chief executive officer, chief operating officer and senior vice president of operations integration and audit. His extensive executive and board experience has equipped him with leadership skills and the knowledge of board processes and functions. Additionally, O’Neil’s audit, general corporate decision-making and engineering experience makes him a valuable member to the FirstEnergy Board.

Christopher D. Pappas
Retired as president and chief executive officer of Trinseo S.A.
Director of FirstEnergy since 2011.
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Full profile
Business Experience: Executive Director of the FirstEnergy Board (from October 2020 to April 1, 2021). Retired in May 2019 from Trinseo S.A., a producer of plastics, latex and rubber, after serving as president and chief executive officer (from 2010 to 2019) and special adviser (2019). He was a director of Trinseo S.A. until his retirement from its board of directors (from 2010 to 2019). He serves as a director of one other public company, Univar Inc. (chairman), a chemical distributor and provider. Director of FirstEnergy since 2011.
Other Attributes, Experience and Skills: Pappas received an M.B.A. from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania and an undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He served in various leadership capacities at NOVA Chemicals Corporation, Dow Chemical, and DuPont Dow Elastomers. His extensive executive experience and extensive board experience over the past 18 with five public companies, have equipped him with leadership skills and the knowledge of board processes and functions. Additionally, Pappas’ general corporate decision-making and senior executive experience with a commodity-based business provides a useful background for understanding the operations of FirstEnergy.

Sandra Pianalto
Retired as president and chief executive officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland.
Director of FirstEnergy since 2018.
Committees: Compensation, Audit
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Full profile
Business Experience: Pianalto retired in May 2014 as president and chief executive officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, a position she held since 2003. Prior to retiring, Pianalto also chaired the Federal Reserve’s Financial Services Policy Committee, which is a committee of senior Federal Reserve Bank officials responsible for overall direction of financial services and related support functions for the Federal Reserve Banks and for leadership in the evolving U.S. payment system. Pianalto is an executive in residence at the University of Akron. She also serves as a director of the following three other public companies: Eaton Corporation plc, Prudential Financial, Inc. and The J.M. Smucker Company. Director of FirstEnergy since February 2018.
Other Attributes, Experience and Skills: Pianalto received a master’s degree in economics from The George Washington University and a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Akron. She is also a graduate of the Advanced Management Program at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. Pianalto has extensive experience in monetary policy and financial services, and brings wideranging leadership and operating skills through her former roles with the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland and experience serving as a director of other public companies. Pianalto joined the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland in 1983 as an economist in the research department and held progressively more responsible leadership roles before being named president and chief executive officer. As president and chief executive officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, she developed expertise in economic research, supervision of financial institutions, and payment services to banks and the U.S. Treasury. In this role, Pianalto also managed approximately 950 employees. Pianalto’s comprehensive experience qualifies her to provide substantial guidance and oversight to the FirstEnergy Board, particularly in overseeing the Company’s finances.

Luis A. Reyes
Retired as a regional administrator of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Director of FirstEnergy since 2013.
Committees: Corporate Governance and Corporate Responsibility; Operations and Safety Oversight
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Full profile
Business Experience: Retired in 2011 as a Regional Administrator (position held since 2008) of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, a federal regulatory agency. Director of FirstEnergy since 2013.
Other Attributes, Experience and Skills: Reyes received his undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering and his Master of Science degree in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Puerto Rico. He has extensive experience in the nuclear field and has held senior leadership positions with the NRC, an independent government agency that regulates commercial nuclear power plants and other uses of nuclear materials such as in nuclear medicine. He joined the NRC in 1978 where he held progressively more responsible leadership roles before being named executive director of operations in 2004, where he managed the agency’s day-to-day operations relating to the safe use of radioactive materials for beneficial civilian purposes while protecting people and the environment. He also served as regional administrator for NRC Region II, overseeing all new commercial nuclear power plant construction in the United States as well as safety and operating plant inspections in the southeast United States. His experience in the nuclear field also provides him substantial experience in physical security and cybersecurity. Reyes retired from the NRC in 2011 with 33 years of service. Reyes’ engineering, physical security and cybersecurity, safety, environmental, regulatory and industry experience is essential to the FirstEnergy Board.

John W. Somerhalder II
Vice chairperson and executive director of FirstEnergy Corp.
Director of FirstEnergy since 2021
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Full Profile
Business Experience: Somerhalder recently served as interim president and chief executive officer of CenterPoint Energy, Inc., an electric and natural gas utility serving several U.S. markets (from February 2020 to July 2020), and served as a member of the CenterPoint Energy’s board of directors (from 2016 through July 2020). Somerhalder serves as a director of Gulfport Energy Corp. He served as a director and board chairman of Enable Midstream Partners, LP (from February 2020 to July 2020), served as a Director of SunCoke Energy Partners GP LLC (from August 2017 to July 2019) and, served as director at Crestwood Equity GP LLC, the general partner of Crestwood Equity Partners LP (from October 2013 to February 2020).
Other Attributes, Experience and Skills: Somerhalder holds a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from the University of Arizona. He served as interim president and chief executive officer of Colonial Pipeline Company, a U.S. refined products pipeline company (from February 2017 to October 2017). Prior to that, he was president and chief executive officer of AGL Resources Inc., a former publicly traded energy services holding company (from March 2006 to his retirement in December 2015), and chairman of AGL Resources board of directors (from November 2007 to December 2015). Prior to joining AGL Resources, Somerhalder served in a number of roles with El Paso Corporation, a publicly traded natural gas and related energy products provider, where he spent almost 30 years, starting his career as an engineer and holding progressively more responsible leadership roles before being named president of El Paso Pipeline Group and executive vice president of El Paso Corporation. His extensive energy industry and senior management experience, including the roles of chief executive officer and board chairman, have equipped him with deep knowledge, strong leadership skills, and keen understanding of board processes and functions. This background qualifies him to serve on your Board, lead efforts to rebuild trust with our external stakeholders, and support our senior leadership team’s efforts to achieve its priorities and strengthen FirstEnergy’s governance and compliance functions.

Steven E. Strah
President and chief executive officer of FirstEnergy Corp.
Director of FirstEnergy since 2021
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Full profile
Business Experience: President, CEO and director of FirstEnergy since March 2021. He was president and acting CEO (October 2020 to March 2021), and president (since May 2020). He also served as senior vice president and chief financial officer (from 2018 to 2020), and senior vice president and president of FirstEnergy Utilities (from 2015 to 2018). He also serves as a director of many other subsidiaries of the Company.
Other Attributes, Experience and Skills: Strah received his Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Baldwin Wallace University. His extensive career began in 1984 at The Illuminating Company, now a subsidiary of FirstEnergy, and continued at FirstEnergy Corp. He has held numerous executive leadership positions at the Company, including president at various FirstEnergy subsidiaries. Strah’s vast experience brings to the Board an extraordinary understanding of the inner workings of the public utilities industry and FirstEnergy.

Andrew Teno
Portfolio manager of Icahn Capital LP
Director of FirstEnergy since 2021.
Committees: Audit
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Full profile
Business Experience: Portfolio manager of Icahn Capital LP., a diversified holding company engaged in a variety of businesses including investment, automotive, energy, food packaging, metals, real estate and home fashion, since October 2020. Teno serves as a director of the following public companies: Herc Holdings Inc. and Cheniere Energy, Inc. Director of FirstEnergy since March 2021.
Other Attributes, Experience and Skills: Teno received an undergraduate business degree from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 2007. Prior to his position at Icahn Capital, Teno worked at Fir Tree Partners, a NY based private investment firm that invests worldwide in public and private companies, real estate and sovereign debt. Prior to Fir Tree, he worked at Crestview Partners from July 2009 to July 2011 as an associate in their private equity business and at Gleacher Partners, a mergers and acquisitions boutique firm. Teno’s investment expertise and experience in a variety of industries, along with his business skills make him a valuable member of the FirstEnergy Board.

Leslie M. Turner
Retired as senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary of The Hershey Company.
Director of FirstEnergy since 2018.
Committees: Audit, Compensation
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Full profile
Business Experience: Retired in March 2018 as senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary (positions held since 2012) of The Hershey Company, a global confectionery company. Director of FirstEnergy since 2018.
Other Attributes, Experience and Skills: Turner received her law degree from the Georgetown University Law Center after graduating from the New York University with a Bachelor of Science degree. She also received a Master of Laws in Law and Government from the American University, Washington College of Law. Turner has extensive and wide-ranging leadership, legal, governance and corporate strategy skills through her former roles with The Hershey Company and The Coca-Cola Company. Turner served as senior vice president, general counsel, and corporate secretary of The Hershey Company from 2012 until her retirement in March 2018. In this role, Turner was the leader of Hershey’s legal, government relations, corporate secretary, and corporate security functions. She also advised Hershey on M&A opportunities and other stakeholder considerations facing publicly traded companies. Prior to joining Hershey, Turner’s career included progressively more responsible leadership roles at Coca-Cola North America, Akin Gump Hauer & Feld, LLP and the senior executive service level of the federal government. Turner’s legal experience and additional regulatory experience qualify her to serve as a member of FirstEnergy's Board.
The Board annually reviews the independence of each of its members to make the affirmative determination of independence that is called for by our Corporate Governance Policies and required by the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Click here to see our Corporate Governance Policies.