Arch Coal Announces Top Operational Management Team

ST. LOUIS, June 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Arch Coal, Inc. (NYSE: ACI) today made several organizational announcements to address the needs of the expanded company following the acquisition of International Coal Group, Inc. (ICG) and its 13 active mining complexes.

"I am confident that the operating leadership structure we are announcing today will help us deliver the full potential of this powerful combination," said John W. Eaves, Arch's president and chief operating officer.

The company named three group presidents: Ken Cochran, Gary Bennett and Charles Snavely, as well as Samuel Kitts to director of operational development.  All four individuals will report to Paul Lang, Arch's senior vice president of operations.

Cochran has been named group president with responsibility for Thunder Basin Coal Company, the Arch Western Bituminous Group, Arch of Wyoming and the Otter Creek development. Cochran served as President of Thunder Basin Coal Company for six years and previously worked 20 years for TXU.  Reporting to Cochran will be Thunder Basin Coal Company President Keith Williams and Arch Western Bituminous Group President Gene DiClaudio.

Bennett has been named group president with responsibility for the Mountain Laurel, Beckley, Coal-Mac, Cumberland River, Lone Mountain/Powell Mountain and Eastern mining complexes.  In addition, Bennett will have responsibility for the eastern engineering, environmental and coal preparation groups at the company's office in Teays Valley.  Bennett previously served as general manager of Arch's Coal-Mac operation and has 21 years of company service.

Snavely has been named group president with responsibility for the Vindex, Patriot, Wolf Run, Flint Ridge, Knott County, Hazard, East Kentucky, and Viper mining complexes as well as the ADDCAR business unit and the Tygart Valley longwall development.  Most recently, Snavely served as ICG's executive vice president of mining operations.  He previously served as ICG's vice president of planning and acquisitions and has 33 years of coal industry experience.  Reporting to Snavely will be regional presidents, Don Vickers and Gaither Frazier.

Kitts has been named director of operational development. Most recently, Kitts served as ICG's senior vice president of business development and asset management.  Previously, he served as senior vice president, planning and organizational development and held a number of other management positions with ICG since 2005.  Kitts has 25 years of coal industry experience.

U.S.-based Arch Coal is a top five global coal producer and marketer, with 179 million tons of coal sold pro forma in 2010.  Arch is the most diversified American coal company, with 24 mining complexes across five U.S. coal supply basins. Its core business is supplying cleaner-burning, low-sulfur thermal and metallurgical coal to power generators and steel manufacturers on four continents.

SOURCE Arch Coal, Inc.