Paul Vining Named President of Alpha Natural Resources

Alpha Natural Resources, Inc.

, a leading U.S. coal producer, announced today the appointment of Paul Vining to the position of president, adding to his current role as chief commercial officer of the company. In this new role, Vining will continue to have responsibility for sales and marketing, and will add responsibility for Alpha's mining operations, assuming all the duties of current Alpha president Kurt Kost. Vining will continue reporting to Alpha's CEO Kevin Crutchfield. Kost is leaving the company following 31 years of service. He plans to retire in the Bristol area, but will remain with Alpha until the end of May 2012, serving in an advisory capacity to Vining and Crutchfield.