Akron, Oh., USA - February 4, 2010, Akron, Oh., USA - FirstEnergy Corp. announced that Charles E. Jones, senior vice president, Energy Delivery and Customer Service, has been named senior vice president and president, FirstEnergy Utilities, effective April 1.
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Mr. Jones succeeds Richard R. Grigg, who has elected to retire on March 31, 2010, after nearly 40 years in the electric and gas industry.
Mr. Jones joined the company as a substation engineer in 1978. Mr. Jones held a variety of positions in the Akron, Marion and Elyria areas, and in 1995 was named president of Ohio Edison's Penn Power subsidiary.
Mr. Jones returned to Akron in 1996 as division manager. Mr. Jones was named president of FirstEnergy's Northern Region in 1997, vice president of Regional Operations in 2001, and senior vice president of Energy Delivery and Customer Service in 2003, and President, FirstEnergy Solutions Corp. in 2007. Mr. Jones was appointed to his current position in February 2009.
Mr. Jones received a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from The University of Akron. Mr. Jones also attended the United States Naval Academy for two years and was a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers. Mr. Jones serves on the boards of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, Cascade Locks Park Association, Team NEO, and the Executive Committee of the Greater Akron Chamber of Commerce.
Mr. Grigg was named executive vice president and president of FirstEnergy Utilities in 2008. Before joining the company as executive vice president and chief operating officer in August 2004, Mr. Grigg had a distinguished, 34-year career at Wisconsin Energy Corporation (WEC), retiring as president and chief executive officer of WE Generation.
Mr. Grigg earned a bachelor of science and a master's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Wisconsin. Mr. Grigg joined Wisconsin Electric Power in 1970, and served in a variety of management positions before being promoted to vice president of System Operations for Wisconsin Electric Power Company (WEPCO) in 1990; vice president of Customer Operations in 1992; and group executive vice president of Customer Operations, Customer Services and Sales and Marketing in 1994.
Mr. Grigg became president and chief operating officer of WEPCO in 1995, and also served as chief nuclear officer from 1996 to 1998. Mr. Grigg became senior vice president of WEC in 2000 and executive vice president in 2003. Mr. Grigg was elected to WEPCO's Board of Directors in 1994 and to WEC's Board in 1995. ■