Craig will be responsible for the Burton, North Goonyella, Eaglefield and Wilkie Creek coal mines and related facilities in Queensland.

"Ian has a proven track record at managing safe, low-cost operations, and he directed Peabody's highly successful Australian operations prior to their sale in January 2001," Peabody chief executive Gregory Boyce said.

Craig most recently served as group executive - technical services, where he was responsible for safety, environmental, engineering, and maintenance for Peabody.

Craig held the post of group executive for Powder River Operations from July 2001 through April 2004. Under Craig's watch, Peabody's Powder River Basin operations shipped 106.5 million tons of coal in 2003, and the North Antelope Rochelle Mine was the safest surface mine in the United States last year.

Prior to that, he was managing director of Peabody Resources in Australia. Craig also held a number of management positions within Peabody Resources and other Australian mining organisations.

He began his mining career in 1976 as a mining engineer, having graduated from the South Australian Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in mineral engineering.