Vining was most recently president of a privately held coal trading, marketing and consulting company in Williamsburg, Virginia. Arch hopes his expertise will help boost penetration of its ultra-low sulphur Western coals into Eastern power markets, and identify opportunities for expanded participation in domestic and international metallurgical markets.

 

"We are pleased that Paul will be joining Arch Coal in this important capacity," Eaves said. "With his wealth of experience in coal sales, trading, transportation, contract administration and risk management, he is uniquely equipped to spearhead Arch's diverse and multi-regional marketing efforts.”

 

Vining will join Arch's senior officer team, which has responsibility for strategy development, policy formation and capital allocation.

 

"Paul is a recognized leader in the coal industry and the ideal person to lead Arch's marketing function in today's fast-moving energy marketplace, where opportunities for value creation abound," said Steven F Leer, Arch's president and chief executive officer.

 

Vining also served as executive vice president for sales and trading at Peabody Energy 1999-2002; president of Peabody Coaltrade 1996-1999; and senior vice president of Peabody Coalsales 1995-1996. Earlier in his career, he held leadership positions with Guasare Coal America, Agipcoal USA, Island Creek Coal and A.T. Massey Coal.

 

He holds a BSc in Chemistry from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, as well as a BSc in Mineral Engineering and an MSc in Extractive Metallurgy from Columbia University's Henry Krumb School of Mines in New York.