Arch Coal Inc. announced that Russ Lorince has joined Arch Coal as vice president of external affairs for the company's eastern region, effective Jan. 7. Lorince will help lead the company's efforts across a wide range of external affairs functions, including state government affairs, community relations and regional communications. He will report to Deck S. Slone, senior vice president of strategy and public policy.

Prior to joining Arch, Lorince served as director of economic development at West Virginia University, a role he assumed in December 2002. Before joining WVU, he worked with Allegheny Energy for 25 years, ending with the position of director of state affairs. Lorince currently chairs TechConnect WV and serves on the boards of the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce, Vision Shared Inc., the Monongalia County Development Authority, the Morgantown Area Economic Partnership and Mylan Park.

He previously served as president of the West Virginia Oil and Natural Gas Association and the West Virginia Economic Development Council.