US coalminer Peabody Energy, which is leading a $4.7 billion takeover bid for Macarthur Coal, has overhauled its senior executive team in Australia as it gears up for growth. Gerry Brophy has been appointed chief project officer for Australia. He will be responsible for engineering and construction of new mines. Peabody plans to boost coal sales to 35 million to 40 million tonnes per year across Queensland and NSW by 2014-15. Peabody also named Ian Livingstone-Blevins as general manager of the Wilpinjong mine in NSW, replacing Keith Downham, who has been promoted to the role of vice president of resource development in Indonesia. Mr Livingstone-Blevins was most recently general manager of Yancoal’s Moolarben coalmine in NSW.

Angela Macdonald-Smith