AKRON, Ohio, Sept. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- FirstEnergy Corp. announced today that William D. Byrd, director of Rate Strategy, has been named Vice President and Chief Risk Officer, effective November 1, 2007, succeeding Kathryn "Kitty" W. Dindo, who has elected to retire.
"Mr. Byrd's expertise and broad knowledge of our operations will enable him to build upon the sound, enterprise-wide risk management strategies Kitty helped develop and implement," said Anthony J. Alexander, president and chief executive officer.
Mr. Byrd began his career at Ohio Edison Company, a predecessor company of FirstEnergy, in 1977 as a business analyst. He has held management positions in Economic Studies, Rates, Advanced Engineering and Planning, Market Research, Wholesale Marketing, FirstEnergy Trading, and Enterprise Risk Management departments. As director of Rate Strategy, Mr. Byrd's responsibilities include assessing future revenue requirements and developing power procurement strategies for the seven regulated utilities of FirstEnergy for both state and federal jurisdictions.
Mr. Byrd earned a bachelor of arts degree in 1975 from Florida Southern College and a master's degree in economics from the University of Chicago in 1977.
"As a member of our senior management team, Kitty has made significant contributions to the strong operating and financial results we've achieved at FirstEnergy," said Richard H. Marsh, senior vice president and chief financial officer. She will retire January 1, 2008.
Ms. Dindo joined FirstEnergy in 1998 as vice president of non-regulated energy services and business groups. She was named to her current position in 2001. Prior to joining FirstEnergy, she served as vice president and controller of Caliber System, Inc., formerly Roadway Services, Inc. Ms. Dindo also was an audit partner in the Akron office of Ernst & Young LLP, leading auditing, tax and consulting services for numerous companies in northeast Ohio. She was one of Ernst & Young's first women partners nationally.
A Certified Public Accountant, Ms. Dindo earned a bachelor of science degree in accounting from The University of Akron and was the recipient of the university's Alumni Honor Award in 2005 and an initial recipient of the university's Dr. Frank L. Simmonetti Distinguished Alumni Award.
Ms. Dindo is a member of the board of directors of The J. M. Smucker Company and chair of its Audit Committee. She also is a member of the board of Bush Brothers and Company, based in Knoxville, TN, and chair of its Audit Committee. She currently serves as a trustee and recent past chair of the Akron Community Foundation and is a member of the Executive Committee of The University of Akron Foundation, chairing its Investment Committee. Ms. Dindo also is a trustee of The University of Akron's Research Foundation, St. Hilary Parish Foundation, and is a member of the distribution committee of the GAR Foundation and is a recent trustee of the Akron General Health System and Community Health Ventures, which includes Hospice of Visiting Nurse Services, and Walsh Jesuit High School.
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 serving 4.5 million customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
