BP Ousts Chairman Over Allegations of Bullying and Governance Failures
BP has ousted its chairman, Albert Manifold, with immediate effect, following internal concerns over what sources described as a pattern of “bullying” and “overbearing” behavior, the BBC has learned.
The energy giant said in a statement that his removal stemmed from “serious concerns” related to “important governance standards, oversight and conduct.” The board’s decision was unanimous, it added.
Manifold, who took the helm less than a year ago after former chair Helge Lund stepped down, disputed the characterization of his conduct. In a statement to Bloomberg News, he said: “I dispute entirely the characterisation of my conduct and I will not allow a false narrative to go unchallenged.” He also claimed he was “removed without warning and without explanation.”
The abrupt departure—rare for a FTSE 100 company—sent BP shares down roughly 5% on the day. One person close to the company described the move as “a big lever to pull, you wouldn’t do it unless it was serious.”
Senior independent director Amanda Blanc said the board had been “surprised and disappointed to learn of governance oversight and conduct issues it deems unacceptable and has taken decisive action.” Blanc had led the search for a new chair after Lund’s departure.
Manifold was brought in to steer BP away from its earlier renewable energy push and back toward oil and gas. He joined as a non-executive director in September 2025 and was appointed chair the following month. At the time, BP praised his “strong track record of strategic leadership and operational delivery.”
His exit comes as BP reported a doubling in profit in the first quarter, driven by a surge in oil prices since the outbreak of the Iran war. The company posted profits of $3.2bn (£2.4bn) between January and March, citing an “exceptional” performance in its oil trading business.
Manifold’s tenure was also complicated by shareholder dissent. At the company’s annual general meeting in April, nearly 18% of shareholders voted against his election—a significant protest vote encouraged by governance adviser Glass Lewis. The criticism was partly linked to BP’s decision to block a climate activist resolution, which Manifold said had not been properly filed.
AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould noted that while there had been pressure on BP to “move on” from Manifold’s predecessor, “not all investors were happy… [with] recommendations to do so from governance experts Glass Lewis.” He added that attempts to shift AGMs to an online-only format and change how the company reported on climate issues had not “sat well” either.
Interim chair Ian Tyler, who takes over with immediate effect, said the board had “deep conviction” in the strategic direction set by the company and was “very impressed” with CEO Meg O’Neill since she took over in December. O’Neill, he said, “has already taken bold action to simplify and strengthen the organisation such as announcing the move to a clearly defined upstream/downstream model.” O’Neill succeeded Murray Auchincloss, who stepped down after less than two years, following the departure of Bernard Looney in 2023 after a scandal over undisclosed relationships.
Manifold was chairman when O’Neill was hired. There is no suggestion that her position is in doubt or that the company’s strategy will shift. Maurizio Carulli, global energy analyst at Quilter Cheviot, noted that apart from helping appoint O’Neill, Manifold’s impact was “necessarily limited” given his short tenure. He called the departure a “short-term negative” but emphasized that BP had made “significant operational improvements and strategic refocusing over the past year, and this is the result of the successful efforts of the entire organisation and its management, not just of one person.”
BP said it would begin the search for a permanent chair. The BBC has approached Manifold for further comment.