Cox to lead UK Coal

FORMER Yorkshire Water managing director Jonson Cox is to be the new executive chairman of UK Coal.

Mr Cox will take up his post on November 15 when current chairman David Jones and chief executive Jon Lloyd will stand down.

He said: “I look forward to joining UK Coal and to working with its management, its board and its stakeholders.

“Our focus will be on supporting the drive for performance of the deep mining business, seeking value over the medium term from the property portfolio and progressively working towards reducing the level of debt.

“I would like to thank the outgoing chairman for his diligence and perseverance on behalf of the company’s shareholders.”

Mr Cox was chief executive at Anglian Water Group until March of this year, overseeing a three-fold increase in the firm’s share price.

He was managing director at Yorkshire Water from 1997 to 2000 and later chief operating officer at privatised rail network operator Railtrack.

Peter Hazell, senior independent director at UK Coal, said: “We welcome Jonson to UK Coal.

“On behalf of all the board, I would like to thank Jon for his commitment and contribution, particularly in setting up our property business, and David most warmly for his very considerable role over many years.

“His character, wisdom and commitment have been formative in seeing the group through a difficult and complex period.”  

Mr Cox is currently a non-executive director of Wincanton.

UK Coal announced its intention to appoint an executive chairman in July as part of a wider restructure which sees the companies property and mining businesses headed by dedicated managing directors.