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Christian Bennett Andrew Nairn
+61 8 8116 5155 / +61 (0) 400 686 106 +61 8 8116 5314 / +61 (0) 437 166 497
christian.bennett@santos.com andrew.nairn@santos.com
Santos today announced the appointment of Mr Peter Coates to its Board of Directors, effective immediately.
Mr Coates, 62, has more than 40 years international experience in commodities industries including coal, nickel, iron ore and bauxite, and built a global coal mining business through successful mergers and acquisitions.
Mr Coates held the position of Chief Executive Officer of Xstrata Coal, Xstrata plc’s global coal business, until his retirement from the position in December 2007. He led the company from its inception as Glencore Coal in 1994 and through its acquisition by Xstrata in 2002. Under his leadership, Xstrata Coal grew to become the world’s leading exporter of thermal coal and a significant producer of coking coal, with operations across South Africa, Australia and the Americas. Mr Coates has been Chairman of Xstrata Australia since January 2008.
Throughout his career, Mr Coates has also played a key role in the development of industry leading workplace reporting and governance standards, for numerous joint venture partnerships and other UK and Australian listed companies.
Mr Coates is the immediate past Chairman of the Minerals Council of Australia and a past Chairman of the NSW Minerals Council and the Australia Coal Association. He was also a member of the APEC 2007 Business Consultative Group and the Prime Minister’s Emission Trading Task Group. Mr Coates is a current member of the Business Council of Australia.
Santos Chairman, Mr Stephen Gerlach said he was delighted that Mr Coates will join the Santos Board of Directors.
“It is very pleasing to appoint a new director with such notable international business experience. I am confident Mr Coates’ solid background in the broader world energy marketplace and the experience he gained in building Xstrata Coal’s global business will enable him to make a significant contribution to Santos,” he said.
A photograph of Mr Coates is available.
