Iron-ore miner Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (ASX:FMG) has appointed Neville Power as its new chief operating officer.

Power was formerly the CEO of Australian operations at mining, construction and services company, Thiess. He has also worked with Smorgon Steel and MIM Holdings.

Fortescue's chief executive Andrew Forrest said Power has the skills needed to deliver the company's mining and expansion projects.

“Power has outstanding business credentials in mining, steel milling and construction, the three sectors on which Fortescue has built its business, and he has demonstrated personal attributes which reflect Fortescue’s can-do culture,” he said.

Power's appointment is effective mid to late February. He will report directly to Mr Forrest.

Fortescue projects to grow its production to 155-million tons a year in 2011.

Forrest said 2011 will be “a year where the company develops the huge and growing resources it has to the benefit of the fastest growing major phenomenon the world has ever seen, the industrialisation and economic development of Asia.”