Cole, who was the responsible for the $2 billion stage one and two of the NICG port expansion at Newcastle, is also a former integration and maintenance manager at Coal & Allied’s Hunter Valley Number 1 mine, and general manager of the Loy Yang power station in Victoria.

Cole will be working alongside Maules Creek general manager Lance Muir and will report to Boardwalk-Maules Creek chief operating officer Peter Kane.

His brief is to deliver the Maules Creek project into production.

Whitehaven’s managing director Tony Haggarty said: “We are delighted to welcome Brian to Whitehaven’s senior management team.

“As a director of NCIG, I have seen first-hand Brian’s excellent performance in delivering this large, complex project on time and budget.

“Whitehaven will benefit greatly by having Brian’s extensive project management knowledge and experience applied to the development of Maules Creek and more widely within the company.”