Cockatoo was previously led by managing director Andrew Lawson; however, his job was made redundant during board changes that followed Cockatoo’s recent share-diluting recapitalisation.

Kane’s resignation as Guildford’s MD, which he started in October 2013, was announced in mid-December.

His departure from the fledgling Mongolian coal producer was for “personal reasons” with the board at the time thanking him for his “tireless service and leadership” in transitioning Guildford into a coal miner.

Kane, a mining engineer who worked for 10 years in BHP Billiton’s iron ore and coal divisions during his early career, is also the former CEO of Boardwalk Resources and Aston Resources – both of which formed part of entrepreneur Nathan Tinkler’s once-mighty coal empire.

Kane also served as a projects chief operating officer for Whitehaven Coal following its merger with Aston, plus served for three years as a COO for Macarthur before it got acquired by Peabody Energy.

He is primarily tasked with leading delivery of the expansion project to lift Cockatoo’s Baralaba coal mine production from 1 million tonnes per annum to 3.5Mtpa.

Kane will receive a base salary of $400,000 (excluding superannuation) plus he will have the potential to earn more through incentive schemes which will be agreed upon by July 31.