Westmoreland Appoints Robert P. King President and Chief Operating Officer

ENGLEWOOD, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Westmoreland Coal Company WLB today announced that Robert P. King is joining the company as its new President and Chief Operating Officer, effective March 26, 2012. King brings more than 30 years of operational coal mining experience to Westmoreland. Keith E. Alessi, Westmoreland's current Chief Executive Officer and President, who has been with the company since 2007, will continue in the role of Chief Executive Officer.

Most recently at Consol Energy, Inc., King served as Executive Vice President – Business Advancement and Support Services of CONSOL Energy and CNX Gas since January 2009. Mr. King served as Senior Vice President – Administration from February 2007 until January 2009, with responsibility for strategy, mergers and acquisitions, supply chain management, permitting, environmental services, research and development, and Fairmont Supply Company. Prior to joining CONSOL in 2006, he held numerous positions with Interwest Mining Company, a subsidiary of PacifiCorp, beginning in November 1990. These positions included Vice President – Operations and Engineering and General Manager at Centralia Mining Company.

“The addition of Bob King as President and Chief Operating Officer rounds out our executive team that will continue to grow Westmoreland,” stated Mr. Richard M. Klingaman, Westmoreland's Chairman of the Board. “His broad leadership experience in the coal industry will add depth to our strategic vision.”

“Since Bob joined CONSOL Energy in 2006 as President of CNX Land Resources, he has contributed his engineering and managerial expertise to our leadership team by overseeing several divisions of the company,” commented J. Brett Harvey, Chief Executive Officer. “Bob was instrumental in developing the framework of some recent partnerships that have transformed CONSOL Energy into a leading diversified fuel producer and we are grateful for his guidance in that process. On behalf of all CONSOL Energy employees, we wish Bob well in his future endeavors.”

As President of Westmoreland, King will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of Westmoreland's business. Mr. Alessi will continue to focus on strategic initiatives and value creation opportunities for the company.

King earned his MBA from Utah State and a MS and BS in Mining Engineering from Colorado School of Mines.

About Westmoreland Coal Company

Westmoreland Coal Company is the oldest independent coal company in the United States. The Company's coal operations include coal mining in the Powder River Basin in Montana, sub-bituminous mining in Wyoming, and lignite mining operations in Montana, North Dakota and Texas. Its power operations include ownership of the two-unit ROVA coal-fired power plant in North Carolina. For more information, visit www.westmoreland.com.