Appointment of Executive Chai

RNS Number : 9251V

UK Coal PLC

10 November 2010

 



10 November 2010

UK COAL PLC

("UK COAL" or the "Group")

Appointment of Executive Chairman

The Board of UK COAL announces that Jonson Cox has been appointed Executive Chairman of the Group with effect from 15 November 2010. Accordingly, David Jones and Jon Lloyd will step down on that date from the Board and their current positions as Chairman and Chief Executive respectively of UK COAL.  Jon Lloyd will stay with the Group until the end of November this year to facilitate the handover process.

Jonson Cox (54) was Group Chief Executive of Anglian Water Group ('AWG') from January 2004 until 31 March 2010, the time at which the Company entered a new regulatory cycle.  He led the substantial recovery of AWG, including its subsidiaries Anglian Water, Morrison plc and AWG Property Ltd, both as a public company and after its change of ownership in December 2006. Under his leadership, AWG became highly regarded, as reflected in a  three-fold increase  in share price while a listed company from 2004 to 2006, Anglian Water  ranking as one of the  top two performing companies in Ofwat's performance assessments for each of the last three years and a successful turn-around of the Morrison businesses.

Peter Hazell, Senior Independent Director, said: "We welcome Jonson to UK COAL. On behalf of all the Board, I would like to thank Jon for his commitment and contribution, particularly in setting-up our property business, and David most warmly for his very considerable role over many years. His character, wisdom and commitment have been formative in seeing the Group through a difficult and complex period."

Jonson Cox said: "I look forward to joining UK COAL and to working with its management, its Board and its stakeholders. Our focus will be on supporting the drive for performance of the deep mining business, seeking value over the medium term from the property portfolio and progressively working towards reducing the level of debt. I would like to thank the outgoing Chairman for his diligence and perseverance on behalf of the company's shareholders." 

Jonson Cox is currently a Non-Executive Director of Wincanton plc.

 

For further information please contact:

Media:

Anthony Carlisle, Citigate Dewe Rogerson

Tel: [phone] Mobile: [phone]

  For Jonson Cox, Anthony Cardew, Cardew Group             Tel: [phone]

                                                                                      Mobile: [phone]

Analysts and investors:

David Brocksom (Finance Director, UK COAL)	Tel: [phone]
Nick Cox-Johnson, Citigate Dewe Rogerson	Tel: [phone]

 

END

 

 

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