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Ethisphere’s Compliance Leader Verification recognizes organizations with an outstanding commitment to achieving a best-in-class ethics and compliance program
Scottsdale, AZ – OCTOBER 26, 2026 – Ethisphere, a global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices, announced today that FirstEnergy has earned the coveted Compliance Leader Verification for 2026, 2027, and 2028.
FirstEnergy is one of the largest investor-owned electric systems in the United States. Headquartered in Akron, OH, its subsidiaries and affiliates are involved in distributing, transmitting, and generating electricity, energy management, and other energy-related services for more than 6 million customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland, and New York.
“Congratulations to FirstEnergy for achieving Compliance Leader Verification recognition. We were particularly impressed by the consistency of their program across the board.” said Curtis Leicht, Manager of Culture Services, Ethisphere. “From Program Structure to Training and everywhere in between, FirstEnergy really impressed us. Specifically, the organization’s action planning process following surveys and external evaluations is best in class.”
The Compliance Leader Verification process involves a rigorous review of an ethics and compliance program and corporate culture. It includes completing the Ethics Quotient® (EQ), a questionnaire covering the elements of an effective program; benchmarking program practices against the World’s Most Ethical Companies®; and extensive document review and interviews with executives and stakeholders.
FirstEnergy’s performance was evaluated on six key areas: program resources and structure; perceptions of ethical culture; written standards; training and communication; risk assessment, monitoring and auditing; and enforcement, discipline, and incentives.
“This recognition belongs to every employee at FirstEnergy. Compliance Leader Verification is not simply an assessment of policies or processes,” said Deandra Williams-Lewis, Vice President and Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer at FirstEnergy. “It reflects the culture we have built together, one where employees feel empowered to speak up, leaders actively listen, and integrity guides our actions. I am proud of the work our teams have done to strengthen our ethical culture and grateful to everyone who contributes to that effort every day.”
About Ethisphere
Ethisphere® is the global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices that fuel corporate character, marketplace trust, and business success. Ethisphere has deep expertise in measuring and defining core ethics standards using data-driven insights that help companies enhance corporate character. Ethisphere honors superior achievement through its World’s Most Ethical Companies® recognition program, provides a community of industry experts with the Business Ethics Leadership Alliance (BELA), and showcases trends and best practices in ethics with Ethisphere Magazine. Ethisphere also helps to advance business performance through data-driven assessments, benchmarking, and guidance. Learn more about Ethisphere at https://www.ethisphere.com.
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Media Contact:
Bill Coffin
Editor in Chief, Ethisphere
Bill.Coffin@Ethisphere.com
Author Bio
Bill Coffin | Editor-in-Chief, Ethisphere Magazine, Ethisphere
Bill Coffin is an internationally recognized writer and editorial leader in the fields of ethics, compliance, insurance and risk management. His work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, BusinessWeek, Forbes and Fortune, as well as Compliance Week, National Underwriter, Risk Management, Best’s Review and other B2B media. Previously, Bill served as Director, Senior Editor at AIG, leading content strategy for one of the world’s largest insurance companies.
