Global coal firm Peabody Energy has named Richard Whiting executive vice-president for sales, marketing and trading, based in St Louis, Missouri. He was previously president and chief operating officer (COO). Whiting replaces Paul Vining, who has assumed a consulting role in Virginia in order to spend more time with his family. Whiting has been at Peabody for 25 years, serving in a number of engineering, operational and sales positions. Chairman and chief executive Irl Engelhardt