Patriot Coal Corporation announced the realignment of its operations management to strengthen oversight of key mine complexes in Appalachia and facilitate plans for expansion of captive production. Effective November 21, the following management team will report directly to Mr Bennett K Hatfield executive vice president & COO.

Mr John R Jones will join Patriot as vice president, operations West Virginia South Region, including the Rocklick, Wells, Big Mountain and Paint Creek complexes.

Mr James N. Magro will serve as senior vice president, operations West Virginia North Region, including the Panther, Kanawha Eagle and Federal complexes.

Mr Michael D Day will be senior vice president engineering and West Virginia Central Region Operations, with dual responsibilities for both the corporate engineering group and an operating region that includes the Logan County, Corridor G, Campbell's Creek and Blue Creek complexes.

Mr Lawrence J. Millburg will become vice president, operations Kentucky Region, including the Bluegrass, Dodge Hill and Highland complexes.

Mr Terry G Hudson will continue in his current position as vice president safety.

Mr E Kent Hartsog will continue in his current role as vice president operations support.

Mr Hatfield said that "The addition of John Jones to our management team focuses experience and resources on our southern West Virginia operations. Our Met Build-Out program is a key part of our strategy, and John will help ensure its success. Also, the new regional structure will allow us to target more of Jim Magro's skills on our critical longwall operations and the ongoing Kanawha Eagle expansion, and will better accommodate Mike Day's responsibility for managing our vital engineering, mine development and environmental compliance efforts. Finally, Larry Millburg will be responsible for our Western Kentucky operations at an important juncture when a significant legacy customer contract is just rolling off."

Mr Hatfield continued that "This realignment of operations management is an important step in strengthening Patriot's operating team and positioning the company for organic expansion.”