BP chair removed over 'serious' conduct concerns

BP has removed its chairman Albert Manifold due to serious governance and conduct concerns, the company announced. Ian Tyler has been appointed interim chair with immediate effect [1]. Senior independent director Amanda Blanc stated the board was "surprised and disappointed to learn of governance oversight and conduct issues it deems unacceptable" [1]. Manifold, who had been in the role for less than a year [1], was appointed chairman of the oil giant in July 2025 [5]. BP is a British multinational and one of the world's largest oil and gas "supermajors," with operations in 61 countries and a primary listing on the London Stock Exchange [2]. The company has a market capitalization of nearly $100 billion and is a member of the FTSE 100 Index [2]. This leadership crisis follows a period of recent executive turnover, including the tenure of CEO Murray Auchincloss, who led the company from January 2024 to December 2025 [6]. BP's history has been marked by major environmental incidents, most notably the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, which is considered the largest marine oil spill in the history of the petroleum industry [2][3]. The disaster resulted in a federal government estimated discharge of 4.9 million barrels of oil and caused extensive damage to marine habitats and coastal industries [3]. The board's decisive action underscores the heightened scrutiny on corporate governance at major energy firms, particularly those with complex operational histories and significant environmental footprints.