Experienced Hickson appointed at UK Coal

UK COAL has appointed Communisis chairman Peter Hickson as a non-executive director to help drive the company’s recovery plan.

Mr Hickson will chair the Doncaster-based company’s remuneration committee and will become senior independent director on the retirement of Peter Hazell from the board.

The appointment has been made as UK Coal continues its strategy of reducing its debts and bank facilities and improving its performance by disposing of assets such as unwanted agricultural land holdings.

Mr Hickson was chairman of Anglian Water Group from 2003 to 2009, and served as finance director of Powergen between 1996 and 2002.

He was a non-executive director of Kazakhmys from 2009 to earlier this year, Scottish Power from 2006 to 2007, Marconi Corporation from 2004 to 2007 and RAC from 1994 to 2002.

He was also senior independent director of London & Continental Railways between 2007 and this year.

Jonson Cox, chairman of UK Coal, said: “I welcome Peter to the board and look forward to working with him again. His experience will help the board and company as we implement our strategic recovery plan.”

Mr Hickson said: “I look forward to joining the board of UK Coal and helping to address the challenges ahead. It will be good to work with Jonson again after our five years at Anglian Water.”

Mr Hazell will retire as a non-executive director on December 31 after serving UK Coal’s board for more than eight years.