Ousted BP Chair Albert Manifold Disputes Misconduct Claims
Albert Manifold, the recently ousted chair of BP, has strongly disputed the oil giant's allegations of poor conduct, stating he was removed without warning or explanation. In an emailed statement, Manifold declared, "I dispute entirely the characterisation of my conduct and I will not allow a false narrative to go unchallenged." This comes after BP announced his immediate departure on Tuesday, citing serious concerns over his governance standards, oversight, and conduct.
Reports describe Manifold's behavior as aggressive, with colleagues feeling belittled. According to Reuters, a whistleblower report provided sufficient evidence for the board to identify a pattern of unacceptable behavior. The Financial Times further reported that Manifold attempted to exert executive-level control, overstepping his role as chair.
Manifold, who served as BP's chair for less than a year after being appointed in October 2025, previously led Irish building materials firm CRH. He was tasked with steering BP's strategic shift back toward fossil fuels and away from renewable energy investments, a reversal from the net-zero ambitions of former chair Helge Lund, who was pushed out under investor pressure from Elliott Advisors.
Upon joining, Manifold quickly ousted CEO Murray Auchincloss after less than two years and appointed former ExxonMobil executive Meg O'Neill in December. O'Neill, previously head of Australia's Woodside Energy, started in April and is expected to accelerate the shift away from renewables. She is BP's fifth CEO since 2020.
Manifold defended his tenure, stating he "worked to drive genuine change at BP – cutting costs, challenging excess, and holding the organisation to higher standards," and noted that the board had acknowledged his focus and pace. Despite his firing, BP signaled it would continue the same strategy and began searching for its third chair in two years. Interim chair Ian Tyler, former CEO of Balfour Beatty, has been appointed.
BP's share price fell 4% on Tuesday following the announcement and slid further on Wednesday. Rich McDonald of IG commented that Manifold's firing represents "another leadership shock at one of Britain's most important companies," raising questions about BP's governability.
