FirstEnergy has named Antonio Fernández vice president and chief ethics and compliance officer effective April 12.  For the past five years, Fernández has been chief compliance officer and chief privacy officer for Public Service Enterprise Group.

According to FirstEnergy, Fernández’s mission will be “to manage a dedicated team of compliance professionals and strengthen FirstEnergy’s ethics and compliance function.” Fernández will report to Hyun Park, senior vice president and chief legal officer. The company hired Park in January to oversee its ethics and compliance program.

Facing an ongoing Justice Department racketeering investigation stemming from the company’s alleged involvement in the 2019 passage of a $1.1 billion bailout of two Ohio nuclear power plants owned by a former subsidiary, FirstEnergy in early November fired both its chief legal officer and chief ethics officer. A week earlier, the company fired CEO Charles Jones and two other top executives involved in marketing and external affairs, explaining that the three had “violated certain FirstEnergy policies and its code of conduct.”

FirstEnergy Chairman Donald Misheff said the company’s board is “confident that [Fernández] will build on the proactive steps the board and management are taking to address challenges and rebuild trust with stakeholders.”

CEO Steven Strah said the company welcomes Fernández. “His fresh perspective will be invaluable as we create an environment in which every member of the team views ethics and compliance as critical, organizational and personal imperatives.”