Robert L. Benson to Retire as President and Chief Executive Officer of The North American Coal Corporation
CLEVELAND, May 18, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- NACCO Industries, Inc. (NC-NYSE) announced today that Robert L. Benson, President and Chief Executive Officer of NACCO's wholly owned subsidiary, The North American Coal Corporation, will retire on June 30, 2015.
Mr. Benson, 67, has given over 38 years of dedicated service to North American Coal. North American Coal has grown substantially under Mr. Benson's leadership through the addition of seven new mining and services operations. During his tenure, Mr. Benson has held various management positions. He assumed the position of Executive Vice President in September 2005, and has been President and Chief Executive Officer since March 2006. Prior to that time he was also President of North American Coal's largest subsidiary, The Coteau Properties Company, and General Manager of the Mississippi Lignite Mining Company's Red Hills Mine. Mr. Benson will serve as Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of North American Coal following his retirement until December 2015.
Upon Mr. Benson's retirement, J.C. Butler, Jr., 54, currently Senior Vice President - Project Development, Administration and Mississippi Operations will become President and Chief Executive Officer of North American Coal. Mr. Butler will also continue to serve in his capacity as the Senior Vice President - Finance, Treasurer and Chief Administrative Officer of NACCO Industries, Inc.
Mr. Butler has extensive leadership experience and knowledge of both North American Coal and NACCO. He joined NACCO in 1995 and has been an officer since May of 1997. Mr. Butler has been Senior Vice President - Project Development and Administration of North American Coal since January of 2010, and in June of 2014 his role was expanded to include oversight responsibilities for North American Coal's two mining operations in Mississippi. He was Senior Vice President - Project Development of North American Coal from May, 2008 to December, 2009. Mr. Butler has held his current NACCO position since September of 2012. Previously, Mr. Butler was Vice President - Corporate Development and Treasurer of NACCO from January 1997 to September 2012. Mr. Butler received a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science degree in Agricultural Economics from Purdue University, and earned a Master's of Business Administration degree from Harvard Business School.
The North American Coal Corporation mines and markets steam and metallurgical coal for use in power generation and steel production and provides selected value-added mining services for other natural resources companies.
NACCO Industries, Inc., headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, is an operating holding company with subsidiaries in the following principal industries: mining, small appliances and specialty retail. Hamilton Beach Brands, Inc. is a leading designer, marketer and distributor of small electric household and specialty housewares appliances, as well as commercial products for restaurants, bars and hotels. The Kitchen Collection, LLC is a national specialty retailer of kitchenware in outlet and traditional malls throughout the United States. For more information about NACCO, visit the Company's website at www.nacco.com.
SOURCE NACCO Industries, Inc.
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