July 22, 2025

FirstEnergy announced that Christopher (Chris) Lopez is joining our organization as Vice President of Labor Relations, starting on July 28. Chris will report to Karen McClendon, Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer.

Chris brings with him more than 30 years of extensive expertise in labor and employment law, litigation and corporate legal strategy. He has held senior leadership roles across a range of industries, including energy, manufacturing and packaging, where he has consistently demonstrated a strong ability to navigate complex labor environments and build collaborative, forward-thinking labor relations strategies.

“Chris is a trusted advisor and strategic partner with a track record of leading through change, cultivating solid, collaborative relationships with labor partners, and driving results that align with both business goals and employee well-being,” said Karen. “His experience negotiating more than 100 collective bargaining agreements and leading major labor initiatives will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen our labor relations strategy and culture.”

Most recently, Chris served as Associate General Counsel and Labor & Employee Relations Consultant for BlueOval SK, a joint venture between Ford Motor Company and SK On. There, he played a pivotal role in establishing legal and HR operations for two large-scale EV battery manufacturing facilities. Prior to that, he led the Litigation and Labor/Employment Law group at NiSource Inc., and held key labor relations leadership roles at Greif, Pactiv Corporation, and OEA/NEA Inc.

Chris received his bachelor’s degree in political science and government from Bowling Green State University. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Toledo College of Law.

He serves on boards of the Educational Service Center of Central Ohio, Eastland-Fairfield Career and Technical Schools, and the Ohio School Boards Association, and is involved with the New Albany Food Pantry.