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CLEVELAND, March 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. (NYSE: CLF) (Paris: CLF) today announced senior management appointments within its global finance, legal and environmental functions effective immediately.

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Terrance Paradie, previously senior vice president – corporate controller and chief accounting officer, is transferring to an executive development position with Cliffs Global Operations Group as senior vice president, assistant general manager – Michigan Operations. Since 2007, Mr. Paradie has led Cliffs' corporate accounting and reporting functions, with additional responsibilities for global financial planning and analysis, and global tax. He has instituted numerous process improvements and generally driven standardization throughout the function successfully. In his new position, he will report directly to the general manager at Cliffs' Michigan Operations. Mr. Paradie will remain an elected officer of the Company.

Timothy Flanagan has been promoted to chief accounting officer and corporate controller. Mr. Flanagan, formerly assistant corporate controller, will assume responsibility for the Company's internal and external accounting and reporting, including Securities and Exchange Commission reporting and disclosures, as well as global financial planning and analysis.  In addition, Mr. Flanagan has been elected an officer of Cliffs.

Michael Morris will assume responsibility for the Company's global tax function alongside his current responsibilities as vice president – finance. Currently based in Perth, Mr. Morris will return to the Company's corporate headquarters in Cleveland to provide executive oversight for tax compliance, consulting, and planning issues on federal, state, and international tax matters, in addition to his focus on financial support for global operations and business segments.

James Graham has been named vice president, general counsel – global operations. Mr. Graham will continue to be responsible for providing counsel to Cliffs' operating units worldwide and managing the Cliffs internal team of legal professionals supporting global operations. In addition, Mr. Graham has been elected an officer of Cliffs.

Dave Cartella has been named vice president – global environmental affairs and counsel.  Mr. Cartella will continue developing the Company's global strategic environmental program while providing counsel to senior management in the areas of operational compliance and environmental stewardship. In addition, Mr. Cartella has been elected an officer of Cliffs.

Carolyn Cheverine has been named general counsel – corporate affairs & secretary. Ms. Cheverine is responsible for providing legal advice and counsel for the Company's corporate management teams with regards to corporate governance, ethics and compliance, securities and capital markets.  Ms. Cheverine has over 20 years' experience as corporate counsel.  Prior to joining Cliffs, she served most recently as senior counsel for the finance and treasury functions of The Lubrizol Corporation, as well as vice president and senior counsel for KeyCorp, both based in Cleveland.

About Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.

Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. is an international mining and natural resources company. A member of the S&P 500 Index, the Company is a major global iron ore producer and a significant producer of high- and low-volatile metallurgical coal. Cliffs' strategy is to continually achieve greater scale and diversification in the mining industry through a focus on serving the world's largest and fastest growing steel markets. Driven by the core values of social, environmental and capital stewardship, Cliffs associates across the globe endeavor to provide all stakeholders operating and financial transparency.

The Company is organized through a global commercial group responsible for sales and delivery of Cliffs products and a global operations group responsible for the production of the minerals the Company markets. Cliffs operates iron ore and coal mines in North America and two iron ore mining complexes in Western Australia. The Company also has a 45% economic interest in a coking and thermal coal mine in Queensland, Australia. In addition, Cliffs has a major chromite project, in the pre-feasibility stage of development, located in Ontario, Canada.

News releases and other information on the Company are available on the Internet at:

SOURCE Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.