FirstEnergy Announces Leadership Changes in Generation Group

FirstEnergy Press Release:

FirstEnergy Announces Leadership Changes in Generation Group

AKRON, Ohio, Jan. 3, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) today announced that Fred von Ahn, formerly vice president, North Fleet Operations, for its FirstEnergy Generation Corp. subsidiary, has been promoted, effective January 1, 2013, to vice president, Central Fleet Operations.  Von Ahn succeeds Frank Lubich, who has elected to retire after more than 35 years with the company.  Joining the company in 1998, von Ahn was a lead engineer at the Perry Nuclear Power Plant, in Perry, Ohio, before being promoted to director, Nuclear Engineering, at the company's Beaver Valley Nuclear Power Station in Shippingport, Pa.  In 2003, he was named vice president of Oversight, FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company (FENOC) prior to being promoted to director, Site Operations, at Perry.  In 2006, he was named director, Fleet Operations Support, FENOC, and the following year von Ahn became director, Fossil Operations Support.  In 2009, he was named director, Bruce Mansfield Plant, inShippingport, Pa., and was promoted to vice president, North Fleet Operations, in 2011.  He is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. "Fred has been a vital member of our management team for many years and has helped us manage a variety of challenges, particularly in how we operate our fleet in accordance with new U. S. Environmental Protection Agency rules," said FirstEnergy Generation PresidentJames H. Lash.  "With his experience on both the fossil and nuclear side of our business, Fred will continue the strong leadership we have had over the years at our Central Fleet Operations, which includes some of our most valuable generating assets." Lubich joined the company in 1977 as an associate engineer at the R.E. Burger Plant inShadyside, Ohio.  In 1985, he moved to the W.H. Sammis Plant as operations supervisor and ultimately was named plant director, then plant vice president.  In 2008, Lubich was named vice president, Fossil Operations and to his current position in 2011.  He has been on a temporary assignment in the Fuels group at FirstEnergy Solutions to help further integrate plant operations with the company's fuel and dispatching strategy. "We'll miss Frank's leadership, knowledge and experience," said Lash.  "He is a true professional and knows the fossil generation business as well as anyone.  Frank is well respected by his peers and employees at the plants, and when faced with challenges he always responded with strong leadership and a dedication to safe, reliable plant operations." FirstEnergy Generation's Central Fleet includes the W.H. Sammis Plant in Stratton, Ohio, the Bruce Mansfield Plant in Shippingport, Pa., and Pleasants Power Station in Belmont, W. Va.  The North Fleet is comprised mostly of plants FirstEnergy is in the process of deactivating due to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Mercury and Air Toxics Standards rules. FirstEnergy is a diversified energy company dedicated to safety, reliability and operational excellence.  Its 10 electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving customers in Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey,New York and West Virginia.  Its generation subsidiaries control more than 20,000 megawatts of capacity from a diversified mix of scrubbed coal, non-emitting nuclear, natural gas, hydro, pumped-storage hydro and other renewables.  Follow FirstEnergy on Twitter@FirstEnergyCorp.