The Coal Products Division of the National Coal Board was established in 1963 to operate the NCB's coking, fuel and chemical works as well as its other operations relating to coal by-products. It was executively separated from the Coal Board with its own chairman, A.W. John, and two deputy chairmen, A.H.A. Wynn and M.J. Murray Grammar. This was part of the NCB's policy of functional decentralisation and was announced the previous year. In 1973 the division became NCB (Coal Products) Limited which was a holding company for Thomas Ness Limited, National Smokeless Fuels Limited, NCB (Hydrocarbons) Limited and NCB (Exploration) Limited.