The Missouri-based producer announced the placement of Dave Freudenthal Friday, noting that he will serve on the board’s audit and energy and environmental policy committees.

Freudenthal, a 25-year public service veteran, recently served two terms as the governor of Wyoming; before that he was the state’s US attorney for more than six years.

The private practice experience of the Amherst College and University of Wyoming graduate includes strategic legal counsel for natural resources, environmental and business law. Freudenthal’s career began as an economist at Wyoming's Department of Economic Planning and Development.

"In addition to his obvious leadership skills and public policy expertise, the governor has great business acumen and a deep understanding of our industry,” Arch chairman and chief executive Steven Leer said.

Earlier this month the company announced another change to its structure with the retirement of eastern operations president Robert Shanks.

The 35-year Arch veteran will step down March 30.

As a result, the company promoted two management personnel from its Coal-Mac subsidiary; Coal-Mac president and general manager Gary Bennett will become Arch’s eastern operations president while mine manager J Chris Sykes will become Coal-Mac’s general manager.

General managers from all four of the producer’s eastern operations and the various staff functions in Charleston, West Virginia, will report to Bennett, who will in turn report to operations senior vice-president Paul Lang.

Arch operates 11 mining complexes in Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, West Virginia, Kentucky and Virginia.