Hanson, who had served as chief operating officer since 2010, will succeed retiring mining veteran John DeMichiei on January 1.

Ohio-based Boich, and Gunvor Group, took over Signal Peak in 2008.

“Without John’s expertise and dedication the mine would not have achieved the success it has,” Boich chairman and chief executive Wayne Boich said.

The longwall mine near Roundup, which is the state’s online underground operation, employs 300 and produced about 6 million tons in 2012.

The mine is eyeing a target of 8Mt to 9Mt in 2013.

The Montana Land Board approved a 10-year lease to the producer for nearly 12Mt in 2012, allowing Signal Peak to expand even further.

In September, Montana state officials extended a comment period for a permit amendment application by the mine to expand the area of its permit by 7161 acres and grow the mine from five longwall panels to 14 longwall panels.

The producer, which initially submitted its request in October 2012, was also seeking the ability to disturb 20 surface acres as well as the continuance of its mining activities.

This past May, county officials in Yellowstone County gave the green-light to nearly a decade of tax breaks for Bull Mountain.

County commissioners approved property tax reductions for the complex to apply to its longwall mining equipment.

The longwall setup is valued at about $77 million.

Signal Peak qualified for the cuts as a new or expanding business, and will be eligible for the lower rate for 10 years.

In the first five years the property is taxed at 50% of normal rate, and a 10% increase goes into effect each year after until it reaches 100% at the end of 10 years.

The surface operations of Signal Peak’s complex are in neighboring Musselshell County, south of Roundup, but its mining area is in both counties. Mining has been moving southward and is now in Yellowstone County.

The tax break will apply for the nine years remaining for that equipment.