FirstEnergy Corp. has announced the appointment of Christopher Lopez as Vice President of Labor Relations, effective July 28. Lopez brings over 30 years of experience in labor and employment law, litigation, and corporate legal strategy to his new role. He will report to Karen McClendon, FirstEnergy Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer.
Lopez has held senior leadership positions in various industries such as energy, manufacturing, and packaging. He has navigated complex labor environments and developed collaborative labor relations strategies that align with business objectives and employee well-being.
Most recently, Lopez served as Associate General Counsel and Labor & Employee Relations Consultant for BlueOval SK, a joint venture between Ford Motor Company and SK On. In this role, he was instrumental in establishing legal and HR operations for two large-scale electric vehicle battery manufacturing facilities. Previously, he led the Litigation and Labor/Employment Law group at NiSource Inc., and held key labor relations leadership roles at Greif, Pactiv Corporation, and OEA/NEA Inc.
Karen McClendon stated: “Chris is a trusted advisor and strategic partner with a track record of leading through change and cultivating strong, collaborative relationships with labor partners. His extensive experience negotiating more than 100 collective bargaining agreements and leading major labor initiatives will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen our labor relations strategy and culture.”
In his new position at FirstEnergy, Lopez will oversee all aspects of labor relations strategy including collective bargaining negotiations, managing relationships with union leadership, ensuring compliance with labor laws and regulations, supporting workforce planning initiatives, and shaping policies that promote a positive labor environment.
Lopez earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from Bowling Green State University and his Juris Doctor from the University of Toledo College of Law.
FirstEnergy serves over six million customers across several states including Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland, and New York. Its transmission subsidiaries operate approximately 24,000 miles of transmission lines connecting the Midwest to the Mid-Atlantic regions.
