FirstEnergy Corp. has announced the appointment of Karen McClendon as Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, effective November 11. In her new role, McClendon will lead efforts to align the company’s human capital strategy with its strategic vision of becoming a leading electric company. Her responsibilities will include overseeing talent management, benefits and compensation, labor and employee relations, and promoting an inclusive workforce.
McClendon brings over thirty years of experience in human resources to FirstEnergy. She has been recognized for developing solutions and driving culture transformation within organizations. “Karen is a resourceful and decisive leader who brings to FirstEnergy deep experience building and fostering a culture where employees feel empowered to reach their full potential,” said Brian Tierney, FirstEnergy’s President and CEO.
Before joining FirstEnergy, McClendon was the CHRO at Paychex, where she improved employee experiences through competitive compensation structures and technology-driven HR planning. Her career also includes nineteen years as Vice President of Human Resources at Comcast Corp., along with senior roles at Aramark Corporation, Exelon Corporation, Zone Telecom, and Sesame Workshop.
McClendon’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Science degree from Old Dominion University and an MBA from Temple University. She has served on various boards such as The Career Wardrobe and ACHIEVEability.
FirstEnergy serves over six million customers across several states including Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland, and New York. The company operates one of the largest investor-owned electric systems in the U.S., with more than 24,000 miles of transmission lines connecting the Midwest to the Mid-Atlantic regions.
For further information or media inquiries about this announcement: Jennifer Young can be contacted at (330) 761-4362 for news media-related questions; Gina Caskey can be reached at (330) 761-4185 for investor relations queries.
