Most recently working as a consultant for Evan Energy Investments, prior to that Crawford served as chairman and chief executive officer of James River Coal Company from 1988 to 2003.

"Jim has long been a well-respected colleague in coal industry management and we are very pleased that he has agreed to join our Board of Directors," said Massey chief Don Blankenship.

Crawford served as president and chief executive officer for Transco Coal Company from 1982 to 1988 and served as a director of A.T. Massey Coal Company from 1974 to 1981, as executive vice president from 1980 to 1981, and as vice president - finance from 1974 to 1980.

The resignation of James H. "Buck" Harless from the Board of Directors was also announced. Harless has been on Massey's Board of Directors since 2001, serving as the chairman of the Public and Environmental Policy Committee.

"I feel it is important, given my time of life and the demands of my growing company, to focus my full-time efforts on my business," Harless said.

"Given these demands, I find it difficult to offer the time necessary to make a continuing contribution to Massey's board."

"We are truly going to miss the many contributions my friend Buck Harless has made to Massey's success," Blankenship said.

"These are particularly interesting times in our industry and Buck's many years of experience enabled him to offer expertise that has been highly valued by me and other members of our board of directors. Management and the board look forward to maintaining our personal contact with Buck in the future."

Massey Energy Company, headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, is the fourth largest coal company in the United States based on produced coal revenues.