Donald Blankenship

Donald Blankenship is an American businessman known for leading Massey Energy, a coal mining company, from 2000 to 2010. Under his management, the company prioritized production and cost-cutting, which led to safety concerns and a tragic explosion at one of its mines in 2010 that killed 29 workers. Blankenship faced criticism for his approach to safety and corporate policies. He was convicted of a federal crime related to conspiring to violate mine safety laws and served a year in prison. He is a controversial figure in the coal industry, often associated with aggressive business practices and the challenges of industry regulation.