Hassey, who also serves on the board of transport and supply chain management firm Ryder System, was chairman and chief executive officer of Allegheny Technologies until his May 2011 retirement.

He will take his post next to board members Kevin Crutchfield, William Crowley Jr, E Linn Draper Jr, Glenn Eisenberg, Deborah Fretz, P Michael Giftos, Joel Richards III, James Roberts and Ted Wood.

“Pat has more than four decades of experience in the metals industry, a key destination for our products,” chairman and CEO Kevin Crutchfield said.

“His broad management background, both in the US and internationally, along with his expertise in manufacturing, logistics and marketing, will further strengthen the resources available to the board and support Alpha's plans for the future.”

Last week, the producer diversified its international reach with the appointment of industry veteran John Hanekamp as senior vice president of international thermal sales and trading.

Hanekamp, with more than 30 years in marketing, trading, transportation and logistics, was most recently chief commercial officer for Illinois Basin longwall mine White Oak.

He was also Peabody Energy VP of US exports, domestic trading and international sales for the Americas.

Before joining the Peabody team in 1999, he held various senior-level asset management, transportation and commodity trading seats at Cargill’s Continental Grain.