FirstEnergy Corp.'s board of directors named Brian Tierney president and CEO, effective June 1.

Tierney succeeds interim President and CEO John Somerhalder II, who will continue to serve as chair of the Akron, Ohio-headquartered company's board, FirstEnergy said in a March 27 news release. Tierney is also expected to join FirstEnergy's board following the company's annual meeting in May.

Somerhalder was appointed interim CEO following the abrupt departure of Steven Strah after an internal review designed to improve corporate governance.

Tierney most recently served as Blackstone Inc.'s global head of portfolio operations and asset management for the infrastructure group. Prior to that, Tierney spent 23 years at Ohio-based American Electric Power Co. Inc. in multiple positions, including serving as executive vice president of strategy following more than 11 years as AEP's CFO.

"The board's search committee set out to identify a leader who could continue the important work underway to drive the company forward while bringing critical outside expertise and perspectives," Somerhalder said. "We could not have selected a better suited candidate than Brian."

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