July 8, 2024

After nearly 80 combined years with the company, Chris Walker, Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) & Corporate Services, and Irene Prezelj, Vice President, Investor Relations & Communications, have both announced that they are retiring on Aug. 1. Their careers will leave a lasting impact on the organization as both were instrumental in helping steer the organization for many years.

Chris Walker

Chris began her career at the company working in GPU’s Information Technology, Human Resources and Customer Service groups. After GPU merged with FirstEnergy in 2001, she was promoted to Director, Compensation and Retirement Programs. In 2011, she was named Executive Director, Human Resources, and five years later became Executive Director, Talent Management. In addition, Chris played a key part in many broad enterprise-wide initiatives throughout her career, served as an Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO) liaison and spent time in Operations to grow her knowledge and further understand our employees’ perspectives.

“I’ve had many wonderful opportunities at this company – it is a place where you can have multiple careers without leaving the organization. And, while that may feel a bit different today, it certainly still holds true,” said Chris. “FirstEnergy is evolving, and our success depends on our ability to be agile, flexible and continually focused on improvement. However, keeping the best of what makes us so great – taking care of each other and our six million customers — remain imperative to our success. There is room for everyone to shine during this journey, and I know that light will be bright and rewarding for all.”

In 2018, Chris was promoted to Vice President, Human Resources, and was then named Senior Vice President and CHRO the next year. She was appointed to her current position in 2021.

President and CEO Brian Tierney said Chris has helped to guide the company and made it her mission to speak up for employees to ensure their voices were heard.

“Chris is someone I could always count on to gauge the pulse of our workforce as we worked to increase transparency and maintain open lines of communication with employees,” said Brian. “Her contributions have been critical to the overall success of FirstEnergy, and her impact on strengthening employee engagement will be felt for years to come. We send her our thanks and best wishes for a happy and healthy retirement.”

To help ensure continuity across the team and effective collaboration, April Marx will serve as interim leader of the HR function until the role is filled externally. Administrative Services and Real Estate will move into the Shared Services organization reporting to John Combs, Senior Vice President, Shared Services.

Irene Prezelj

Irene began working at the company as an Administrative Assistant following high school graduation. She went to night school and received a Bachelor of Arts in communications from Cleveland State University and a Master of Business Administration from Baldwin-Wallace College. Fast-forward 40 years and she is retiring as Vice President of Investor Relations & Communications.

“I feel very blessed to have worked in so many different areas of the company and with so many great people,” said Irene. “Time has flown by, and the company has changed significantly during my career. Employees should be excited about the future of FirstEnergy because the company is headed in the right direction.”

Irene has the distinction of being one of the few employees who experienced the complete formation of the FirstEnergy we know today, which started in 1986 when The Illuminating Company (CEI) merged with Toledo Edison to form Centerior Energy. FirstEnergy was formed when Centerior merged with Ohio Edison in 1997, and Irene played a role in the successful implementation of all the subsequent mergers that followed.

She worked in Rates following the FirstEnergy merger, and then spent nearly 10 years at FirstEnergy Solutions. In 2008, she became Manager, Investor Relations, and the next year was promoted to Director, Investor Relations. Irene became Executive Director of Investor Relations in 2011, was promoted to Vice President, Investor Relations, later that year, and was named to her current position in 2021.

According to Jon Taylor, Senior Vice President, CFO & Strategy, it’s hard when someone with Irene’s deep experience and knowledge of the company retires.

“We will miss Irene’s leadership, as well as the passion and strategic thinking she brought to her role,” said Jon. “She accomplished a great deal during her 40-year career and made a positive difference in our Investor Relations and Communications efforts.”

Brian added that for many years, Irene remained steadfast in her commitment to sharing FirstEnergy’s story honestly and to building strong relationships in the investment community.

“Irene was instrumental in working with investors to ensure they understood what was happening at FirstEnergy and that their questions and concerns about our financial performance were addressed quickly,” said Brian. “She maintained a level of integrity that earned her a lot of respect with the investors she worked with and is leaving a legacy she should be proud of. We wish Irene the best in her retirement, as well.”

Information about how company leadership plans to fill Irene’s position will be shared as soon as it is available.