RICHMOND, Va., Aug. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Massey Energy Company (NYSE: MEE) announced today the appointment of two new Directors to its Board: Mr. Robert B. Holland III of Dallas, Texas and Ms. Linda J. Welty of Greensboro, Georgia. Each will be subject to election by shareholders in 2012.

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"Each of these individuals brings to our Board of Directors a record of achievement in international business, a reputation for sound judgment, and strong leadership skills that will strengthen our board and benefit both the shareholders and management of Massey Energy," said Admiral Bobby R. Inman (ret.), the Company's Lead Independent Director. "Their additions will help us build an ever more successful company."

    --  Mr. Holland has served in a variety of roles throughout his career. He
        is Executive Co-Chairman of Max Petroleum plc, an oil exploration
        company which trades on the AIM division of the London Stock Exchange,
        where he serves on the compensation committee and as audit committee
        chairman. Since July 2009, Mr. Holland also has served as a member of
        the board of directors and the compensation committee of Financial
        Guaranty Insurance Corporation, a bond and mortgage insurer. He has
        served on the boards of directors of the following U.S. publicly-traded
        companies during the previous five years: Pier 1 Imports, Inc., a
        specialty retail company, and Affiliated Computer Services, Inc., a
        provider of business process outsourcing and information technology
        services.  From 2002 until 2006, Mr. Holland represented the United
        States on the Board of Executive Directors of the World Bank.  During
        that time, he served on the World Bank's audit committee. He holds a law
        degree from the University of Texas Law School, having practiced
        corporate law at Jackson Walker LLP and as General Counsel of Triton
        Energy Limited, a New York Stock Exchange listed international
        exploration company that was sold to Amerada Hess.

    --  Ms. Welty is an experienced global business executive with a record of
        redirecting and rejuvenating various business enterprises, initiating
        and leading change within large organizations.  During a career spanning
        more than 30 years in the chemical industry, she served in executive
        roles with Celanese, Hoechst, H. B. Fuller and Flint Ink, a global
        printing ink supplier for publication and packaging, where she served as
        President and Chief Operating Officer from 2003-2005.  Since 2005, Ms.
        Welty has served as an executive advisor to private equity firms in
        transactions involving specialty chemical companies, providing advice on
        business valuations, due diligence, and value creation strategies. 
        Since 2007 she has served on the board of directors of Vertellus, a
        global specialty chemical manufacturer serving the agriculture,
        nutrition, health care, personal care, plastics, inks and coatings
        market, with over half of its sales derived outside North America.  She
        serves on both the compensation and audit committees of Vertellus.  Ms.
        Welty holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of
        Kansas.

Massey Energy Company, headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, with operations in West Virginia, Kentucky and Virginia, is the largest coal producer in Central Appalachia and is included in the S&P 500 Index.

SOURCE Massey Energy Company