BEN Bens Creek Group Plc

22 February 2024

Bens Creek Group plc

("Bens Creek" or the "Company" or the "Group")

Appointment of CEO for Bens Creek Operations LLC

Bens Creek Group plc (AIM:BEN), the owner of a metallurgical coal mine in North America supplying the steel industry, is pleased to announce that Chris Walker has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer of Bens Creek Operations LLC ("BC Operations"), a wholly owned operating subsidiary of the Group. Chris will commence his employment with BC Operations on 6 March 2024. It is anticipated that following completion of the customary due diligence process by the Company's nominated adviser, as required under the AIM Rules, Chris will join the Board of the Company and at that time become CEO of the Group.

Following the appointment of Chris Walker as CEO of BC Operations, Adam Wilson will step down as CEO of BC Operations but will remain on the Board and CEO of the Group until Chris joins the Board as CEO of the Group. Following this, Adam will assume a position as an Executive Director of the Group for a further period of time, to be agreed. Adam will also remain an employee of BC Operations until 31 October 2024 to assist in the orderly handover of responsibilities to Chris.

Chris is a seasoned executive with extensive global leadership experience in the mining sector. Chris spent 14 years with Peabody Energy, Inc. ("Peabody") in a variety of senior finance, strategy and marketing roles. Notably Chris served as Peabody's head of strategy and more recently led Peabody's international sales and trading organisation while based in Australia. Prior to joining Bens Creek, Chris served as the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Restructuring Officer for Allegiance Coal Limited's U.S. assets. Chris began his career in accounting roles with Arthur Andersen and KPMG. Chris holds graduate business degrees from Washington University in St. Louis and Clemson University, as well as an undergraduate degree in accounting from Clemson University.

At present, the Board of Bens Creek remains unchanged and comprises Adam Wilson (Chief Executive Officer), Robin Fryer (Non-Executive Independent Chairman), David Harris (Non-Executive Independent Director), Mark Cooper (Non-Executive Director) and Rajesh Johar (Non-Executive Director).

Adam Wilson, CEO of Bens Creek, commented: 

"It has been my absolute pleasure to be involved in Bens Creek right from the very start. I am confident with the full remediation of the business and that with the start-up problems now behind us, Chris will be able to take the business to the next level and I look forward to warmly welcoming him into the Company.

Chris has all the relevant experience to establish Bens Creek as a fully integrated HvB met coal producer to both the domestic and international markets, and as a significant shareholder I look forward to the next chapter for Bens Creek under his leadership."  

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