Alpha Natural Resources, Inc., a leading U.S. coal supplier, has appointed John W. Hanekamp as Senior Vice President—International Thermal Sales and Trading.

Hanekamp has more than 30 years’ experience in marketing, trading, transportation and logistics, and other areas working for Peabody Energy Corp. and Continental Grain Co. His chief focus will be to expand Alpha’s thermal coal export activities.

Hanekamp most recently served as Chief Commercial Officer for White Oak LLC, a longwall mine development project in the Illinois coal basin. Prior to that he was Vice President U.S. Exports, Domestic Trading, International Sales for the Americas for Peabody Energy Corp. of St. Louis. While with Peabody Hanekamp established a sales and trading office in London from which he managed the development of the company’s Atlantic sales and marketing activities, oversight of global derivatives trading, risk management and administrative functions. Prior to joining Peabody in 1999, Hanekamp held various senior-level asset management, transportation and commodity trading positions at Continental Grain Co., which is now part of the Cargill group.

"John’s experience developing strategies to increase revenues, profit and growth and the strong business relationships he’s built around the world will be of great value to the company as we work to expand our global reach," said Alpha President Paul Vining. "While Alpha has a well-established presence internationally in metallurgical coal, serving customers on five continents, John’s role will be to enlarge our export capabilities for thermal coal customers around the world."