Albert Manifold has been removed as chair of BP with immediate effect, after the oil company's board raised serious concerns about governance standards, oversight, and conduct. The FTSE 100 company announced Manifold's departure on Tuesday, without providing further details. He had served only eight months in the role.
Market Reaction
BP's share price fell by 9% in the minutes following the announcement, just before lunchtime in London, before recovering slightly to a 6% decline, making it the biggest faller on the FTSE 100.
Board Statement
Amanda Blanc, BP's senior independent director and chief executive of Aviva, said: "Albert has helped bring a welcome focus and pace to BP's transformation. However, the board has been surprised and disappointed to learn of governance oversight and conduct issues it deems unacceptable and has taken decisive action."
Manifold's Tenure
Manifold was appointed to BP's board in October 2025. He was tasked with overseeing a strategic shift back toward fossil fuel extraction and away from renewable energy investments. During his brief tenure, he ousted chief executive Murray Auchincloss after less than two years, hiring Meg O'Neill to take over in December.
Previous Leadership Issues
Manifold is the second senior BP leader to lose his job for conduct reasons in three years. Bernard Looney, Auchincloss's predecessor, was forced out in September 2023 for failing to disclose sexual relationships with colleagues when he became chief executive. Looney was later denied £32 million in pay and shares after the board said it had been misled.
Interim Chair Appointed
BP has appointed board member Ian Tyler as interim chair with immediate effect. Tyler is a former chief executive of Balfour Beatty, a FTSE 250 infrastructure group. He also chairs Grafton Group, a FTSE 250 building supplies company, and serves as a director at Anglo American, a FTSE 100 mining firm.
