Hayden, an operational and engineering veteran of the mining industry for more than 42 years, is a certified mine foreman in several US states and also is a certified US Mine Safety and Health Administration instructor.

He has held positions of senior management for US Steel, Arch Coal, Blue Diamond and Westmoreland to oversee operations of both surface and underground operations.

He also has a strong background in acquisitions, contract mining, mine planning, equipment selection and utilization and labor productivity.

Americas did not indicate the effective date for Hayden’s appointment.

Earlier this month, the producer announced it had officially opened its new corporate headquarters office in Knoxville that would permit it to increase its professional staff numbers as Americas evaluates new asset opportunities.

Currently, it has projects operating in Tennessee as well as Kentucky.