ST. LOUIS, July 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Peabody Energy today announced organizational changes in its administrative, operations and government relations functions to meet the company's ongoing growth opportunities.
-- Christopher J. Hagedorn has been named Vice President of Supply Chain Management, reporting to Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer Sharon D. Fiehler. Hagedorn is responsible for developing comprehensive global procurement strategies while managing the quality and cost of goods and services purchased. Reporting to Hagedorn are Mark D. Byars, Director of Supply Chain Infrastructure and Enablement; Jason M. Ryan, Director of Strategic Commodities; Larry D. Steward, Director of Supply for U.S. Operations; Joseph M. Tarica, Director of Plant and Equipment Procurement; and Paul M. Wagner, Director of Projects and Contracts. Hagedorn joined the company in August 2006 as Vice President of Business Performance, directing the Peabody Peak Performance initiative -- "P3" -- to achieve best- in-class performance across all business functions. Prior to that, he was an Associate Principal for McKinsey and Company. Hagedorn holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Washington University in St. Louis and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of California at Santa Barbara.
-- Lance N. Throneberry has been named General Manager, Supply Chain Management for Peabody's Australia Operations, reporting to Peabody Australia Chief Financial Officer Gregg P. Wickstra. Throneberry joined the company in December 2006 as Vice President of Supply Chain Management. Prior to joining Peabody, Throneberry spent 11 years with Newmont Mining Corporation, where he most recently served as Director of Supply Chain Management. Throneberry holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business from Eastern Illinois University, and a Master of Business Administration degree from Denver University. He is also a certified public accountant.
-- Jeffrey A. Maher has been named Vice President, Business Continuous Improvement, reporting to Fiehler. Maher is responsible for developing and executing business process improvement strategies across all Peabody business functions and managing the company's Enterprise Resource Planning program. Reporting to Maher are the following Directors of Business Continuous Improvement: Danny R. Moriarty, Stephen G. Breunig, Keith J. Bowles, Janette I. Putz and Mark A. Medvick. Maher has more than 25 years of experience with Peabody, and most recently served as Director of Enterprise Resource Planning Integration. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Indiana State University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Evansville.
-- Antonnette (Toni) M. Jackson has been named Vice President of Compensation, reporting to Fiehler. Jackson is responsible for the design, development and management of compensation programs aimed at enhancing employee retention, motivation and performance. Reporting to Jackson are Victoria L. Kiefer, Director of Compensation, and Charles R. Otec, Manager of Compensation. Jackson has more than 17 years of compensation and finance experience and most recently served as a Senior Compensation Consultant and Office Practice Leader for Watson Wyatt Worldwide. She has also served in various leadership positions with global human resource consulting firms, including her tenure as National Practice Leader for Employee Rewards for Mellon's Human Resources and Investor Solutions and its predecessor Buck Consultants. Jackson holds a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy from the University of Missouri, with honors.
-- L. Cartan Sumner, Jr. has been named Vice President of International Government Relations, reporting to Senior Vice President of Government Relations Fredrick D. Palmer. Sumner is responsible for working with international governments to create a policy-friendly framework for Peabody's coal development projects worldwide. Sumner most recently served as Director of International Government Relations. Previously, Sumner served as Director of Corporate Development, participating in Peabody's recent international expansion efforts. Prior to joining Peabody, Sumner held corporate development positions with RPM, Inc., a specialty chemicals holding company based near Cleveland, Ohio, and its St. Louis-based subsidiary Carboline Company. He also was an attorney in private practice in St. Louis. Sumner has a Bachelor of Arts from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., a Master of Business Administration from the John M. Olin School of Business at Washington University in St. Louis, and a Juris Doctorate from the Washington University School of Law. Sumner is a member of the Missouri Bar and the Illinois State Bar Association, and he is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court.
-- Thomas A. Benner has been named Director of Underground Mines for the Peabody Midwest Group, reporting to Group Executive for Illinois and Indiana Operations Charles A. Burggraf. Benner is responsible for the day-to-day operations activities of the mines, including safety, continuous improvement, environmental management, and the review of strategic growth opportunities for Peabody's underground mining operations in Illinois and Indiana. Reporting to Benner are Jonathan B. Dever, Superintendent, Francisco Mine; Todd A. Grounds, Superintendent, Wildcat Hills Mine; Bertis W. Hall, Operations Manager, Air Quality Mine; Robert E. Quam, Operations Manager, Riola Mine; and Cliffton E. Walker, Superintendent, Gateway Mine. Benner joined Peabody in 2005 as Operations Manager for Gateway Mine. Prior to joining Peabody, Benner spent 18 years with Turris Coal Company in various management positions. He has a Bachelor of Science degree from Illinois State University and is currently enrolled in the Executive MBA program at Washington University in St. Louis.
Peabody Energy is the world's largest private-sector coal company, with 2007 sales of 238 million tons of coal and $4.6 billion in revenues. Its coal products fuel approximately 10 percent of all U.S. electricity generation and 2 percent of worldwide electricity.
Use of the words "Peabody," "the company" and "our" relate to Peabody, our subsidiaries and our majority-owned affiliates.
CONTACT: Derrell Carter (314) 342-7667
