EY Tax Partner to lead in-house tax function at First Energy Corp

FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) announced on January 28 that[private] James G. Garanich will join the company as vice president, Tax, effective March 1, 2010. He will lead FirstEnergy’s Tax Department, developing tax strategy and overseeing reporting, regulatory compliance and tax payments to more than 600 communities and government entities. He succeeds Gene Sitarz, who retired from FirstEnergy in November 2009 after 36 years with the company. Garanich is a tax partner with Ernst & Young LLP in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Garanich joined Arthur Young and Company, a predecessor to Ernst & Young, in 1984. He received a bachelor of science degree from Bowling Green State University in 1981, and a Juris Doctor degree from Cleveland State University’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in 1984. Garanich has been a Certified Public Accountant since 1987.

“Jim’s wealth of experience will be key to ensuring we maintain a solid tax strategy as the company completes the transition to fully competitive generation markets,” said Mark T. Clark, FirstEnergy executive vice president and Chief Financial Officer. “We appreciate Gene’s many years of counsel and dedicated service, and look forward to having Jim join our excellent Controller’s group, led by Harvey Wagner[/private]

FirstEnergy is a diversified energy company headquartered in Akron, Ohio. Its subsidiaries and affiliates are involved in the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity, as well as energy management and other energy-related services. Its seven electric utility operating companies comprise the nation’s fifth largest investor-owned electric system, based on 4.5 million customers served, within a 36,100-square-mile area of Ohio, Pennsylvania and New Jersey; and its generation subsidiaries control more than 14,000 megawatts of capacity.