BP has ousted Chair Albert
Manifold with immediate effect, it said on Tuesday, citing
governance and conduct issues, with four sources alleging
aggressive and unacceptable behaviour towards colleagues.
A BP spokesperson declined to give further details. Reuters
could not immediately reach Manifold for a comment.
Just under eight months after he took office to help oversee
a strategy revamp, Manifold’s departure follows scandal and
repeated leadership changes at BP. Less than three years ago,
former BP CEO Bernard Looney was fired after lying to the board
about personal relationships with colleagues.
With Manifold fresh in the job, Looney’s successor Murray
Auchincloss left abruptly in December, with no clear reason
given for his exit. Former Woodside CEO Meg O’Neill was
immediately announced as BP’s fifth CEO since 2020 to accelerate
the company’s shift in focus back to oil and gas and away from
renewable energy, a strategy change announced by Auchincloss
early last year.
BP BOARD UNANIMOUSLY DECIDED TO OUST MANIFOLD
In a statement on Tuesday, BP said its board had unanimously
decided that Manifold – who has had the backing of activist
hedge fund Elliott, which has built up a stake of around 5% in
BP – should no longer serve as chair and director with immediate
effect.
“This follows serious concerns raised to the board related
to important governance standards, oversight and conduct,” BP
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,” said
senior independent director Amanda Blanc. Blanc oversaw
Manifold’s appointment in October.
Four sources with knowledge of the matter, including one
close to BP’s board, cited alleged unacceptable and aggressive
behaviour with different colleagues across the company as one
reason for Manifold’s ouster. One source said the board had
received enough information following a whistleblower report to
ascertain that there was a pattern of unacceptable behaviour.
The sources declined to be named because they were not
authorised to speak publicly.
Elliott declined to comment.
BP shares were down almost 10% after the announcement and their
trading briefly halted. They later pared some losses to trade
down around 4%. An index of European energy companies
was down around 0.1%.
MANIFOLD WAS APPOINTED AMID TAKEOVER SPECULATION
Manifold, who had never held a job in the energy industry
before BP, had made a name for himself as the chief at building
materials producer CRH whose portfolio he reshaped. He
also moved its primary listing from Ireland to the U.S. and the
share price rose.
BP announced his appointment last year after years of share
underperformance against its rivals had prompted persistent
takeover and break-up speculation.
Under Manifold, BP’s board shrank. Shell finance chief
Simon Henry, who only joined BP in September, was among those
leaving.
In April, at BP’s annual general meeting, the board failed to
get two of its resolutions accepted by shareholders and
Manifold’s appointment as chair got less support than typical.
While the board stood united at the AGM, proxy adviser Glass
Lewis said at the time Manifold was ultimately accountable for
BP’s decision to exclude a resolution filed by climate activist
group Follow This and thus recommended a vote against him. His
appointment was confirmed by around 82% of votes, which is below
a typical tally near 100% for directors.
Ian Tyler, a former chief of British construction group
Balfour Beatty and on BP’s board since last year, will
be interim chair.
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Published on May 26, 2026
