It follows the resignation of Dan Clifford in October last year. Clifford had been in the position for three years and joined shortly after the Isaac Plains mine moved into production.

McCabe will join the company, which faced a hostile takeover threat last year, from jobs at Wesfarmers where he was chief executive f the resources division that ran the Curragh and Bengalla mines.

McCabe led the operational turnaround of Wesfarmers Resources, overseeing sustainable reduction in mine cash costs while increasing production, delivering $800m in capital projects and significantly improving safety performance.

Stanmore chairman Stewart Butel said McCabe would drive the next wave of expansion.