FirstEnergy Recognized by Ethisphere® for Outstanding Ethics and Compliance Program and Practices and Leadership

Rhea-AI Summary

FirstEnergy has achieved the Compliance Leader Verification for 2025-2026 from Ethisphere, demonstrating excellence in corporate ethics and compliance programs. The company's commitment to ethical business practices was validated through a rigorous review process focusing on six key areas.

The company's Vice President and Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer Antonio Fernández received the 2025 Business Ethics Leadership Alliance (BELA) Beacon Award for his contributions to the ethics community. CEO Brian X. Tierney emphasized how integrity and accountability have become fundamental to FirstEnergy's operations.

The verification process included completing the Ethics Quotient assessment, benchmarking against World's Most Ethical Companies, and comprehensive document reviews. The evaluation covered program structure, ethical culture, written standards, training, risk assessment, and enforcement measures, marking FirstEnergy's transformation toward becoming a premier electric company.

Positive

• Recognition from Ethisphere for outstanding ethics and compliance program demonstrates strong corporate governance
• Leadership award for Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer indicates effective management of compliance risks
• Successful rebuilding of ethics and compliance program suggests reduced regulatory and legal risks
• Strong corporate culture focused on integrity may lead to better operational performance and customer relationships

Negative

• None.

Compliance Leader Verification^™ recognizes organizations with an
outstanding commitment to achieving a superior ethics and compliance program

Company's Vice President and Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer Antonio Fernández honored with Business Ethics Leadership Alliance's Beacon Award

AKRON, Ohio, April 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Reflecting its core values and commitment to ethics and integrity, FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) has earned Compliance Leader Verification for 2025-2026 from Ethisphere, a global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices. This designation reflects that FirstEnergy's corporate ethics and compliance program and initiatives and corporate culture meet or exceed stringent criteria reflective of best practices.

Ethisphere also has recognized FirstEnergy Vice President and Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer Antonio Fernández with its 2025 Business Ethics Leadership Alliance (BELA) Beacon Award, which honors individual leaders who have fostered the growth of the BELA community through their personal efforts and generosity in sharing their time and expertise.

Brian X. Tierney, Board Chair, President and Chief Executive Officer for FirstEnergy: "Under Antonio's leadership, FirstEnergy has rebuilt our ethics and compliance program to focus on doing what's right for our customers, communities, employees and other stakeholders. The integrity and accountability that grounds these programs are not just principles on paper, but the foundation for how we work, lead and grow. I'm proud that we've established a culture where integrity fuels innovation, drives performance excellence and enhances the experience for our customers – traits reflecting our transformation to becoming a premier electric company."

Watch Tierney and Fernández discuss FirstEnergy's ethics and compliance journey with Ethisphere's Bill Coffin on a recent episode of the Ethicast Podcast.

Jodie Fredericksen, Vice President, Data and Services at Ethisphere: "FirstEnergy has put in an incredible amount of work to establish and strengthen their program. They mean business, and we continue to be impressed with their dedication to ethics and compliance. Antonio has been a standout leader in this space, both at FirstEnergy and in the compliance community. At a time when integrity and trust are more important than ever, he sets an example for those around him by leading with courage, clarity and conviction."

The Compliance Leader Verification process involves a rigorous review of an ethics and compliance program and corporate culture. It includes completing the Ethics Quotient^® (EQ), a questionnaire covering the elements of an effective program; benchmarking program practices against the World's Most Ethical Companies^®; and extensive document review and interviews with executives and stakeholders. 

FirstEnergy's performance was evaluated on six key areas: program resources and structure; perceptions of ethical culture; written standards; training and communication; risk assessment, monitoring and auditing; and enforcement, discipline and incentives.

More information about Compliance Leader Verification is available at https://ethisphere.com/what-we-do/leader-verification/

About Ethisphere 

Ethisphere is the global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices that strengthen corporate brands, build trust in the marketplace and deliver business success.

Companies turn ethics, compliance, and culture into a business advantage by leveraging Ethisphere's data-driven program and culture assessments featuring the latest guidance and the practices of hundreds of global organizations across the 8 pillars of an ethical culture, and 240+ ethics, compliance, social and governance data points delivered through a proprietary software platform.

Ethisphere also honors superior integrity programs through World's Most Ethical Companies^® recognition, brings together a community of industry experts with the Business Ethics Leadership Alliance (BELA), and advances ethical business practices through the Global Ethics Summit, Ethisphere Magazine and the Ethicast podcast. For more information, visit https://ethisphere.com.

About FirstEnergy

FirstEnergy is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York. The company's transmission subsidiaries operate approximately 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Follow FirstEnergy on X @FirstEnergyCorp or online at firstenergycorp.com. 

 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/firstenergy-recognized-by-ethisphere-for-outstanding-ethics-and-compliance-program-and-practices-and-leadership-302443171.html

SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.

FAQ

What recognition did FirstEnergy (FE) receive from Ethisphere in 2025?

FirstEnergy received the Compliance Leader Verification for 2025-2026 from Ethisphere, recognizing their outstanding ethics and compliance program. Additionally, their Chief Ethics Officer Antonio Fernández won the 2025 BELA Beacon Award.

How does Ethisphere evaluate companies for Compliance Leader Verification?

Ethisphere evaluates companies through the Ethics Quotient questionnaire, benchmarking against World's Most Ethical Companies, document reviews, and executive interviews. They assess six areas: program structure, ethical culture, standards, training, risk assessment, and enforcement.

What impact has FirstEnergy's ethics program had on their business operations?

FirstEnergy's ethics program has established a culture where integrity drives innovation, performance excellence, and enhanced customer experience, supporting their transformation into a premier electric company.

Who leads FirstEnergy's ethics and compliance initiatives in 2025?

Antonio Fernández, FirstEnergy's Vice President and Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer, leads the company's ethics and compliance initiatives, earning recognition with Ethisphere's 2025 BELA Beacon Award for his leadership.

What are the key areas FirstEnergy (FE) was evaluated on for compliance verification?

FirstEnergy was evaluated on six key areas: program resources and structure, ethical culture perceptions, written standards, training and communication, risk assessment and monitoring, and enforcement and discipline systems.