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ST. LOUIS, Dec. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Peabody Energy today announced that Brendan Pearson has been named Vice President of Federal Government Relations, Australia, reporting to Eric Ford, Peabody's Global Chief Operating Officer, and Michael Flannigan, Vice President of International Relations, based in St. Louis.  Pearson will be based in Brisbane, Queensland.

Pearson is joining Peabody from the Minerals Council of Australia (MCA), where as Deputy Chief Executive he played a key leadership and policy-making role in the peak industry body that represents Australia's $700 billion mining and minerals processing industry.

During his tenure at MCA, Pearson was responsible for shaping the minerals sector approach to a range of policy issues, including climate change, industry economics, trade and investment, education and skills, land use and infrastructure.

Pearson brings a wealth of experience to Peabody's international government relations team through his time at the Australian Government's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in the Environment and Services and Intellectual Property branches.  He worked for a period in Japan reporting major economic, corporate, financial and political events in Japan and Korea, as well as in Washington, D.C. representing Australian interests in a range of commercially sensitive global, regional and bilateral trade negotiations.

Pearson holds a Master of Philosophy in international relations from the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, and a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) from Australian National University in Canberra.

Peabody Energy is the world's largest private-sector coal company and a global leader in clean coal solutions. With 2010 sales of 246 million tons and nearly $7 billion in revenues, Peabody Energy fuels 10 percent of U.S. power and 2 percent of worldwide electricity.

CONTACT:
Meg Gallagher
(314) 342-7963

SOURCE Peabody Energy