Pittsburgh, June 29 – CONSOL Energy Inc. announced today that J. Brett Harvey, the president and CEO of CONSOL Energy, has been appointed with the additional responsibilities as chairman of the board.

With the change, John Whitmire, the current chairman, now becomes vice chairman of the board.

"I am very honored to be given this added responsibility, and for following John Whitmire, who has been chairman since CONSOL Energy first became a public company in 1999," said Brett Harvey. "Under his leadership, CONSOL Energy realized a total shareholder return of approximately 616 percent, which illustrates the fine job he has done during his tenure on behalf of our shareholders.

"John and I have worked very closely together over the years, and as I take on the additional role of chairman, I expect that our close working relationship will continue."

In other action pertaining to the change, CONSOL Energy's Board of Directors also appointed Philip W. Baxter as the lead independent director. Mr. Baxter has more than 30 years of energy industry experience. William E. Davis, the chairman of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board, said, "With Phil's service as a member of our Board and the board of directors of CNX Gas Corporation, our subsidiary, for the past 12 years collectively, he is ideally suited for the position of lead independent director."

Mr. Harvey has been president and chief executive officer and a director of CONSOL Energy since January 1998. With more than 30 years of experience in the energy industry, Mr. Harvey is especially qualified to understand the risks and leadership challenges facing a leading, diversified energy company like CONSOL Energy. Mr. Harvey also brings substantial corporate governance expertise to the CONSOL Energy Board of Directors, which he has acquired through his years of service on multiple public company boards.