Kane held chief executive officer roles at Boardwalk Resources and Aston Resources before being appointed chief operating officer of projects at Whitehaven Coal following the merger of Whitehaven with Aston.

As part of Whitehaven Coal’s strategy to ensure its broader business remained competitive, 10 workers were made redundant in November, including Kane, who was its executive general manager of business development.

Prior to that role, Kane was Tinkler’s Boardwalk-Maules Creek chief operating officer.

In February last year, Tinkler announced Kane would get a package of more than $1 million to be the interim chief executive of Aston Resources.

At the time, Tinkler said the board was delighted to have someone of Kane’s “significant project experience” step into the role at Aston during the transition into the proposed $5.1 billion merger with Whitehaven Coal and Boardwalk Resources.

“Peter brings comprehensive onsite experience and contracting know-how from his time at Leighton Contractors, Macarthur Coal and, more recently, Boardwalk Resources,” Tinkler said.

Previously, Kane spent three years as chief operating officer with Macarthur Coal, leading the company’s mines and project developments in Queensland prior to the purchase of Macarthur by Peabody.

During his tenure at Macarthur Coal and Aston, Kane also covered the role of joint venture chair on multiple operations with numerous JV partners.

Prior to that, Kane spent 10 years with Leighton Contractors in various roles including general manager of the Australian mining contractor business. His earlier career included 10 years with BHP in their iron ore and coal divisions.

Guildford Coal has also announced that Michael Wotherspoon had left his position as chief financial officer of the company.

Mark Reynolds, currently project director for North Queensland, will be appointed to the role of acting CFO while a search is undertaken for a new CFO.