Kellow, who has held the job of Peabody Energy chief operating officer since 2013, has been appointed to the board will take on the top job from May 4.

Current chairman and CEO Gregory H Boyce will remain as executive chairman of the board.

“Since joining Peabody in 2013, Glenn has led an operational team that has significantly improved safety, productivity and costs, while also overseeing corporate strategy, marketing and business development,” Boyce said.

“Glenn brings substantial experience in multiple countries and multiple commodities throughout a highly successful career in global resources.”

The announcement concludes a thorough succession planning process that has been under way for several years and concludes Boyce’s tenure at the helm of Peabody which included the acquisition of Macarthur Coal’s assets in Queensland for $5 billion in 2011.

Kellow has worked across a broad range of commodities spanning three decades. Prior to joining Peabody, he held multiple leadership posts on three continents over a 28-year career with BHP Billiton.

He ultimately served as president of the multinational aluminium and nickel business with operations in South Africa, Australia, Mozambique and Colombia. He has held a number of executive, operating and financial positions in the coal, copper, base metals, steel and petroleum sectors in the US, Australia and Chile.

Kellow is the former chairman of Worsley Alumina in Australia, chairman of Mozal in Mozambique, and chairman of the global Nickel Institute.

He is a former director of the World Coal Association and the US National Mining Association, and is a past member of the executive committee of the Western Australian Chamber of Minerals and Energy and the advisory board of the Energy and Mining Institute of the University of Western Australia.

Kellow has an MBA and BComm from the University of Newcastle in Australia.

He completed the advanced management program of the Wharton Business School in the US and is a Fellow of CPA Australia. In 2014, Kellow was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Science from South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and the Alumni Award for International Leadership from the University of Newcastle.

“With its proud 132-year history, deep leadership bench, great people and high-quality assets, it will be my privilege to lead the pre-eminent company in the sector,” Kellow said.

“We continue to take all necessary steps to work through the challenging market downturn and are well positioned to benefit when coal markets improve. I look forward to continuing to work closely with Greg on the transition, with an overarching commitment to create superior value over the long term.”