Westmoreland Announces Executive Leadership Changes; Kevin Paprzycki Stepping Down as CEO
ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Nov. 28, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Westmoreland Coal Company (Nasdaq:WLB) today announced that Kevin Paprzycki is stepping down from his position as Chief Executive Officer effective immediately. Mr. Paprzycki served in this position since 2015.
The Board of Directors appointed Michael “Hutch” Hutchinson, Audit Committee Chairman and current member of the Board, to serve as the interim Chief Executive Officer while a search is conducted for a permanent replacement. Mr. Hutchinson will oversee Westmoreland's strategic direction and be responsible for managing day-to-day operations until the new CEO is appointed.
“We’d like to thank Kevin for his dedication to Westmoreland during his years serving as Chief Financial Officer and then CEO,” said Jan Packwood, Chairman of the Westmoreland Board. “Looking forward, we are very confident in our talented senior leadership team and our highly skilled mining personnel. We believe that our search will identify a new leader with the skills and talent necessary to continue our unparalleled service to our customers, while developing and expanding our future prospects.”
Mr. Hutchinson, a native of Colorado, had a career with Deloitte and Touche spanning 35 years that included leading its Audit and Enterprise Risk Management Practice as well as its Energy and Natural Resources Practice both in Denver.
The Board commenced a search for a full-time successor and is engaging a leading executive search firm to identify and evaluate candidates.
About Westmoreland Coal Company
Westmoreland Coal Company is the oldest independent coal company in the United States. Westmoreland’s coal operations include surface coal mines in the United States and Canada, underground coal mines in Ohio and New Mexico, a char production facility, and a 50% interest in an activated carbon plant. Westmoreland also owns the general partner of and a majority interest in Westmoreland Resource Partners, LP, a publicly-traded coal master limited partnership (NYSE:WMLP). For more information, visit www.westmoreland.com.
For further information please contact:
Gary Kohn, Chief Financial Officer
1-720-354-4467
gkohn@westmoreland.com