FirstEnergy Adds Three Senior Leaders, Mobilizes 1,000+ Crews for Storm Response
FE•FirstEnergy appointed Chris Beam to lead West Virginia/Maryland operations, Hanneke Counts as VP of safety and Daniel Puscas as CIO to boost reliability, safety and technology modernization. The company mobilized 1,000+ outside line workers and forestry crews to protect its six-million-customer grid from this week’s severe storm.
1. Executive Leadership Appointments
FirstEnergy named three senior leaders to reinforce its operational, safety and technology strategies: Chris Beam will oversee West Virginia and Maryland utilities and regulated generation; Hanneke Counts will standardize environmental health and safety practices company-wide; and Daniel Puscas will direct enterprise IT, digital platforms and cybersecurity efforts.
2. Storm Response Mobilization
With forecasts calling for strong winds, heavy rain and possible tornadoes, FirstEnergy Ohio companies have staged over 1,000 outside line workers, forestry teams and damage assessors across the state. The utility serves six million customers and maintains 24,000 miles of transmission lines with ongoing tree trimming, system upgrades and aerial inspections to enhance grid resilience.
