HARRISBURG — A Cranberry Township man is the new face of the Marcellus Shale Coalition, the high-profile group of companies that are active in Pennsylvania’s booming natural gas industry.

David Spigelmyer is the second president to head the group.

Spigelmyer is a former vice president of government relations at Chesapeake Energy’s eastern division and the Marcellus Shale Coalition chairman. He was picked by the executive board of the approximately 300-member coalition, the group said Monday.

The coalition formed in 2008 as interest began spreading in the gas in the Marcellus Shale, which lies deep underneath of Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia and New York.

Kathryn Klaber, Spigelmye’s predecessor, worked her last day at the coalition on Friday. She had announced over the summer that she was leaving her position.

Spigelmyer said he will not shy away from taking on top public officials, such as gubernatorial candidates, over their stance on natural gas.

“I’m going to do whatever it takes to help my members be successful and invest capital in Pennsylvania,” Spigelmyer said.