Peabody Energy Announces New Business Development and Law Appointments

ST. LOUIS, March 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Peabody Energy announced today two new leadership appointments: Murray Hundleby has been named Vice President and Chief Legal Officer – Australia, and Rebecca L. Kujawa has been promoted to Vice President – Business Development.

In this new position, Hundleby will lead the law department supporting Peabody's Australian business platform from the company's office in Brisbane.  Hundleby will join the Australian senior management team and will be responsible for providing legal advice and counsel on a broad range of matters, including mining operations, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, litigation and compliance.  He reports to Peabody's Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary Alexander C. Schoch.  

Murray Hundleby has more than 20 years of corporate legal experience, including almost a decade as Chief Counsel – Australia for The Boeing Company.  His previous experience includes service as General Counsel with Railservices Australia, a New South Wales-owned rail infrastructure and maintenance organization, and with the Federal Airports Corporation, which owned and operated 22 airports in Australia before they were privatized.  Hundleby holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Technology in Sydney, a Master of Laws in international law from University College London, a diploma of air and space law from the London Institute of World Affairs, and a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Canterbury in New Zealand.

Rebecca Kujawa will have a central leadership role in furthering Peabody's international business development activities, particularly in the fast growing Asia-Pacific region.  Based in St. Louis, she will continue to report to Senior Vice President – Business Development Bob Reilly.  Kujawa most recently served as Director – Business Development, after transferring from the law department in 2010.

Kujawa joined Peabody in 2008 as Corporate Counsel in the law department and since has held positions of increasing responsibility, specializing in commercial contract law and corporate governance issues.  She particularly has been involved in the company's business development activities in Asia and South America.  Prior to Peabody, she served as an associate at Blackwell Sanders LLP in St. Louis, and began her career as an analyst for the Illinois State senate staff.  She received her Juris Doctor from the University of Illinois College of Law and her Bachelor of Arts from Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

Peabody Energy (NYSE: BTU) is the world's largest private-sector coal company and a global leader in clean coal solutions.  With 2010 sales of 246 million tons and nearly $7 billion in revenues, Peabody fuels 10 percent of U.S. power and 2 percent of worldwide electricity.

SOURCE Peabody Energy