The Cline Group LLC, founded by coal operator Chris Cline, said Nov. 10 that it has appointed veteran coal marketer Paul Vining as its Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately.
Vining assumed the leadership of Cline Group affiliate, Cutlass Collieries LLC, in February of this year as its Chief Executive Officer and has spent the balance of the year leading acquisitions and potential acquisitions of coal operations in North America and Australia. Vining will remain CEO of Cutlass Collieries.
In a related move, Vining was appointed President of Foresight Reserves LP, which controls mineral interests in North America and is the sponsor of Illinois coal producer Foresight Energy LP.
Vining said: “I am enjoying my work with Chris Cline and his affiliates. I appreciate him giving me a broader role in the organization.”
Cline said: “Paul is the right man for our company and at the right time given our industry’s challenges.”
Vining has 35 years of industry experience andhas held senior leadership, operational and commercial positions with several mining companies including: President and COO of Alpha Natural Resources; CEO of White Oak Resources (a start-up Illinois coal producer); President and COO of Patriot Coal; President and CEO of Magnum Coal; SVP of Marketing and Trading at Arch Coal; President of Ellett Valley CC Inc.; EVP for Sales and Trading at Peabody Energy; President of Peabody COALTRADE and SVP of Peabody COALSALES.
