Nick Pearson Appointed Vice President of Federal Government Affairs at FirstEnergy
FirstEnergy Corp., a leading electric utility company dedicated to providing safe, reliable, and affordable electricity to millions of customers across the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions, announced today the appointment of Nick Pearson as Vice President of Federal Government Affairs, effective immediately.
In this key leadership role, Pearson will be responsible for overseeing FirstEnergy’s presence and operations in Washington, D.C., where he will lead the company’s federal engagement strategy and work closely with lawmakers, regulators, and policy stakeholders. His primary focus will be on shaping and advancing federal energy policies that align with FirstEnergy’s mission to deliver dependable, sustainable, and cost-effective energy to its customers. Pearson will report directly to Amanda Mertens Campbell, Vice President of External Affairs for FirstEnergy.
“Nick brings a unique and powerful blend of experience in both the public and private sectors, along with deep expertise in energy policy and federal government operations,” said Campbell. “His leadership in Washington, D.C., will be instrumental in ensuring FirstEnergy continues to play a constructive and proactive role in shaping national energy policy. As the country moves toward a cleaner, more resilient energy future, Nick’s insights and relationships will help position our company, employees, and customers for success.”
A Veteran in Government Affairs and Energy Policy
With more than two decades of experience in government relations, public policy, and business strategy, Pearson has built a distinguished career at the intersection of energy and federal governance. Before joining FirstEnergy, he served as Head of Congressional Affairs for Google Cloud, a division of Google LLC. In that capacity, Pearson worked closely with lawmakers and federal agencies to advocate for greater competitiveness in the cloud computing sector. His portfolio extended to critical emerging areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), national cybersecurity, and the role of advanced cloud technology in modernizing the U.S. energy infrastructure.
In addition to his congressional work for Google Cloud, Pearson also held the role of Global Head of Energy Policy at Google. There, he led strategic engagement with international and domestic policymakers on issues related to clean energy development, decarbonization initiatives, and the integration of renewable technologies into energy markets. His work included policy advocacy for data center energy efficiency, long-duration energy storage, and utility-scale solar and wind deployment, among other key issues.
Pearson’s extensive energy policy experience also includes his tenure as the head of the Washington, D.C. office for the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), a federally owned electric utility that provides electricity for over 10 million people across seven southeastern states. During his time at TVA, he was deeply involved in policy discussions concerning both existing and advanced nuclear energy, transmission system planning, and grid reliability. He worked closely with several key federal agencies—including the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)—to advocate for energy strategies that align with TVA’s public service mission.
Early Career and Policy Foundations
Before taking on national energy leadership roles, Pearson began his career in public service and political strategy. He worked on a range of state and federal campaigns in Georgia, providing legislative, strategic, and policy support for elected officials and candidates. Notably, he served on the legislative staff of U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, a widely respected voice on education, energy, and healthcare issues.
He also worked within the Georgia General Assembly, supporting both the Senate Majority Leader and the President Pro Tempore—gaining firsthand experience navigating state-level legislative processes and shaping policy from the ground up.
In addition, Pearson served as Vice President of Government and Political Affairs at the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, the state’s leading business advocacy organization. In that role, he represented the interests of more than 4,500 member businesses, working on a broad portfolio of legislative and regulatory issues including economic development, environmental permitting, energy policy, and taxation. His ability to bridge the private and public sectors, and advocate on behalf of a diverse set of stakeholders, established him as a trusted advisor and strategist.
A Deep Commitment to Civic Engagement
Outside of his professional work, Pearson has remained actively engaged in public service and civic initiatives. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science and Speech Communications from Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Georgia. Throughout his career, he has been involved with numerous community-focused organizations and nonprofit boards.
He previously served on the boards of the Georgia State Society and Everybody Wins! DC—a literacy and mentoring organization focused on improving educational outcomes for children. He was also involved with the District of Columbia Public Education Foundation, where he contributed as a member of the Young Professionals Committee. Currently, Pearson is a member of the National Energy Resources Organization, an influential group that fosters bipartisan dialogue on domestic energy production and national energy security.
Additionally, he volunteers regularly with DC Central Kitchen, a nationally recognized nonprofit that combats hunger and poverty through job training and sustainable food access programs.
FirstEnergy’s Strategic Outlook
Pearson joins FirstEnergy at a time when the company is actively working to modernize its grid, improve resiliency, and integrate more renewable resources into its energy portfolio. With recent developments in federal infrastructure funding, decarbonization mandates, and technological innovation in the energy space, the federal policy landscape is becoming increasingly important to utility companies and their stakeholders.
FirstEnergy, which operates electric utilities in Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, New Jersey, and Maryland, is committed to being a leader in the clean energy transition. The company has announced significant investments in grid modernization, electric vehicle infrastructure, and renewable energy partnerships. Through its Climate Strategy, FirstEnergy is pursuing ambitious goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build a smarter, more sustainable energy future for its customers.
“Federal policy decisions increasingly impact everything from utility regulation and rate structures to investments in clean energy and grid reliability,” said Campbell. “Having a leader like Nick Pearson—who understands the policy landscape, builds relationships across the aisle, and can communicate complex issues with clarity—is a tremendous asset to FirstEnergy and the communities we serve.”
