Hatfield has more than 30 years of leadership experience in the coal industry most recently serving as the CEO of Patriot Coal.

Before this, Hatfield held executive management positions with International Coal Group, Arch Coal, and Massey Energy Company.

Foresight’s founder and chairman Chris Cline said: “We are pleased to have Ben join our board of directors.

“Ben is one of the most experienced leaders in the entire industry and brings a lifetime of relevant knowledge and hard won experience to our organisation. I look forward to working with him in the years to come.”

Hatfield previously served as a board member of the National Mining Association and as a board member of the West Virginia Coal Association. He is a licensed professional engineer with a BSc (mining and mineral engineering) from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

Foresight has also announced the appointment of James T Murphy as its chief accounting officer. Murphy has served as controller of Foresight Energy since 2011 and as vice president and controller since December 2014.

Murphy is a certified public accountant and holds a BSc (business administration) from the University of Missouri (St Louis).