FirstEnergy Corp. has announced that Christopher (Chris) Lopez will join the company as Vice President of Labor Relations, effective July 28. Lopez brings more than three decades of experience in labor and employment law, corporate legal strategy, and employee relations across sectors such as energy, manufacturing, and packaging.
In his new role, Lopez will lead the company’s labor relations efforts, including collective bargaining negotiations, union engagement, and labor compliance. He will report to Karen McClendon, Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at FirstEnergy.
Lopez most recently served as Associate General Counsel and Labor & Employee Relations Consultant for BlueOval SK, a joint venture between Ford Motor Company and SK On, where he played a central role in launching HR and legal operations for two electric vehicle battery manufacturing sites. He has also held leadership positions at NiSource, Greif, Pactiv Corporation, and OEA/NEA Inc.
“Chris is a trusted advisor and strategic partner with a track record of leading through change and cultivating strong, collaborative relationships with labor partners,” said McClendon. “His extensive experience negotiating more than 100 collective bargaining agreements and leading major labor initiatives will be invaluable.”
Lopez holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Bowling Green State University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Toledo College of Law.
He joins FirstEnergy at a time when labor relations remain a critical part of workforce strategy across the utility sector. The company serves over six million customers through its electric distribution and transmission operations across six states.
