Leadership Team
Peabody’s Executive Officers
Left to right: Patrick Forkin, Malcolm Roberts, Darren Yeates, Scott Jarboe, Jim Grech, Mark Spurbeck, Marc Hathhorn, Jamie Frankcombe.
Peabody’s Executive Officers are appointed by the Peabody Board of Directors. Together, the ELT has more than 225 years of experience across the mining industry. This experience includes leadership roles at Peabody and other global, tier-one mining companies.
Peabody has approximately 5,500 employees in the United States and Australia. Peabody strives to build a strong, united workforce with a commitment to safety as a way of life. In 2022, the company achieved a global safety incidence rate of 1.13 incidents per 200,000 hours worked, which was 59% better than the 2022 U.S. industry average incidence rate of 2.77 incidents per 200,000 hours worked according to the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA).
Jim Grech
President and Chief Executive Officer
James (Jim) Grech has over thirty years of experience in the coal and natural resources industry. He joined the company in June 2021 as President and Chief Executive Officer and member of the company’s board of directors and the Executive Committee of the board.
Mr. Grech has substantial operational, commercial and financial experience in mining and other energy business operations, as well as extensive experience in utilities and capital markets.
Mr. Grech has held executive leadership roles throughout his career, most recently he served as Chief Executive Officer of Wolverine Fuels from 2018 to 2021. Other positions held include President of Nexus Gas Transmission, Chief Commercial Officer and Executive Vice President of Consol Energy and Vice President at DTE Energy.
Mr. Grech is a board member of America’s Power, the National Mining Association and Blue Danube Incorporated and is a member of the Coal Industry Advisory Board of the International Energy Agency. He is an appointed member on the Surface Transportation Board (STB) Rail Energy Transportation Advisory Committee (RETAC).
Mr. Grech holds a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Michigan and a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Lawrence Technological University. He also completed the executive development program of the Wharton Business School.
Patrick Forkin III
Chief Development Officer
Patrick Forkin is Chief Development Officer for Peabody. He leads global strategy, mergers and acquisitions, portfolio management and renewable energy development.
Mr. Forkin joined Peabody in 2010 and has served in a variety of roles. He has an extensive background in the energy industry, mergers and acquisitions and equity market research. Prior to joining Peabody, he was in senior leadership roles at a U.S. solar development company and boutique investment banking firms specializing in renewable and conventional energy research. Mr. Forkin began his career at Deloitte LLP.
Mr. Forkin holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accountancy from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and is a Certified Public Accountant.
Jamie Frankcombe
President – Australian Operations
Jamie Frankcombe is President – Australian Operations for Peabody. He has executive responsibility for the company’s Australian operating platform, which includes leadership of health, safety and environment; people, operational performance and product delivery.
Mr. Frankcombe joined Peabody in November 2021 and has over 30 years of experience in developing and managing large-scale open cut and underground coal, iron ore, copper and gold mines in Australia, Indonesia, Asia and the Americas.
Mr. Frankcombe most recently served as Deputy Managing Director for Phu Bia Mining in Laos managing the Phu Kham (copper & gold) and Ban Houayxai (gold & silver) operating assets. Other positions held include Chief Operating Officer for Whitehaven Coal, Director Operations for Fortescue Metals Group, Chief Operating Officer for PT Adaro Indonesia and Executive General Manager for Xstrata Coal Americas. He is a former director of Coal Services Pty Ltd.
He holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Mining) from University of Wollongong and a Master of Business Administration (Technology) from Deakin University.
Marc Hathhorn
President – U.S. Operations
Marc Hathhorn is President – U.S. Operations for Peabody. He has executive responsibility for the company’s U.S. operating platform, which includes leadership of health and safety; operations; product delivery; and support functions.
Mr. Hathhorn joined Peabody in 2011 and has more than two decades of extensive international mining, transportation infrastructure and engineering experience. He previously served as President – Australian Operations, Group Executive – U.S. Operations, Group Executive for Eastern Operations, Group Executive for Operations Support Americas and Senior Vice President of Midwest Operations.
Before joining Peabody, Mr. Hathhorn served as Vice President of Mining Operations for Drummond Company's coal operations in Colombia, South America.
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in mining engineering from the University of Idaho's College of Mines.
Scott Jarboe
Chief Administrative Officer and Corporate Secretary
Scott Jarboe is Chief Administrative Officer and Corporate Secretary for Peabody. He leads the company’s global human resources, legal, government affairs, and ethics and compliance functions, he provides comprehensive legal counsel for Peabody’s business activities, and he serves as Secretary to the Company’s Board of Directors.
Mr. Jarboe joined Peabody in 2010 and has served in a variety of roles. He most recently led the Legal Department as Chief Legal Officer. Prior to joining Peabody, Mr. Jarboe practiced law with Bryan Cave LLP and Husch Blackwell LLP and represented Peabody as outside counsel.
Mr. Jarboe earned his Juris Doctor degree from Washington University, where he served as Editor-in-Chief of the Washington University Law Review and graduated Order of the Coif. He also earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with highest distinction from the University of Kansas and a Master of Arts degree from the University of Missouri – Kansas City.
Malcolm Roberts
Malcolm Roberts is Chief Marketing Officer for Peabody. He has responsibility for all Peabody sales, marketing and logistics.
Mr. Roberts joined Peabody in 2021 as Executive General Manager – Sales & Marketing. He has more than 25 years of experience in the resources and commodities industry, focused on the energy and steel sector, with roles encompassing key aspects of the value chain including finance, commercial, trading and sales and marketing.
Before joining Peabody, he worked for leading mining and manufacturing organizations including Rio Tinto, Bridgestone, and Heidelberg Cement.
Mr. Roberts holds an undergraduate degree in Commerce and Management from Lincoln University in New Zealand and is a CA member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand.
Mark Spurbeck
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Mark Spurbeck is Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Peabody. He oversees Finance, Treasury, Tax, Internal Audit, Financial Reporting, Financial Planning, Risk and Mine Finance, corporate accounting functions, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications.
Mr. Spurbeck joined Peabody in 2018, and most recently served as Senior Vice President & Chief Accounting Officer. Prior to joining Peabody, he served as the Vice President & Chief Accounting Officer of Coeur Mining, where he led the accounting, finance and tax teams for five years. Previously, Mr. Spurbeck served at Newmont Mining for eight years in various finance and accounting roles, most recently as Group Executive, Assistant Controller. He began his career at Deloitte LLP.
Mr. Spurbeck holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting from Hillsdale College. He has completed the Executive Scholar program in Leadership at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. He is a Certified Public Accountant and recently served as Treasurer of the Silver Institute.
Darren Yeates
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
Darren Yeates is Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Peabody. He oversees the company’s global operations including health, safety and environment, mine operations, technical, procurement, and sales and marketing.
Mr. Yeates joined Peabody in this role in 2020 and has over 40 years of mining industry experience. He previously served on the Peabody board of directors from February 2020 to December 2021.
Before joining Peabody, Mr. Yeates served as COO of MACH Energy Australia. He was previously CEO of GVK Hancock Coal, and prior to that, spent over 22 years with Rio Tinto in multiple positions, including Acting Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer for Coal Australia. He is a former director of Emeco Holdings Limited and a former director of Stanmore Coal Limited. In addition, Mr. Yeates served as CEO of WorkPac Group and serves on the board of directors.
Mr. Yeates has a Bachelor of Engineering (Mining) from University of Queensland, a Graduate Diploma in Management from the University of Central Queensland and a Graduate Diploma of Applied Finance and Investment from the Securities Institute of Australia. He has an Executive MBA from the Monash Mt Eliza Business School and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.