Bridges will have accountability for the company’s operations performance while Peter Westerhuis remains an executive director of Idemitsu Australia Resources.

Idemitsu Australia managing director Koji Arai said Westerhuis’ extensive operational experience was important to the board’s role overseeing all of the company’s Australian operations.

The company had also undertaken a number of other management changes designed to strengthen the group and position it for growth in New South Wales’ Gunnedah Basin and Queensland’s Bowen Basin, Arai said.

He said the executive changes would add to management capability in light of current challenging market conditions and the company’s expansion plans at Ensham Central and Boggabri Coal.

“I am confident that this new management structure together with all of our employees and contractors will operate the company and its group mines efficiently and deliver the outcomes safely, efficiently and in a cost-effective manner as committed to various stakeholders,” Arai said.

Other management changes include Toshi Shibahara being appointed as chief executive officer in addition to his current role of deputy managing director.

Tetsuya Furuno and Yutaka Endo remain as directors.