Ousted BP Chair Albert Manifold Fires Back Over Conduct Allegations

CNBC reported Thursday that ousted BP Chairman Albert Manifold has publicly pushed back against the conduct allegations that led to his abrupt removal, calling claims circulating in the press outright falsehoods. Manifold accepted the board’s decision to dismiss him but said he would not allow anonymous sources to define his brief tenure at the British energy giant.

Manifold’s Defense of His Albert Manifold BP Record

In a letter published Thursday, Manifold argued there is a meaningful difference between leading an organisation with urgency and the harsher characterisation now being attributed to him. He said his priorities at BP included simplifying operations, controlling costs and shoring up the balance sheet. Not everyone within the company, he acknowledged, shared that vision with equal enthusiasm.

Manifold flatly denied media reports suggesting he sought an executive rather than a non-executive role at BP. He noted he had visited the company’s London headquarters on roughly 13 days throughout 2026. He also said no colleague ever raised a conduct concern with him directly while he served as chair.

Manifold concluded his letter on a conciliatory note, describing BP as a company with strong long-term potential. He praised Chief Executive Meg O’Neill and Chief Financial Officer Kate Thomson as among the most capable professionals he had encountered in his career.

Background: A Turbulent Tenure

BP’s board announced Manifold’s removal Tuesday, citing serious concerns around governance standards and conduct. The decision caught many analysts and investors off guard. Senior independent director Amanda Blanc said the board was “surprised and disappointed” to discover issues it considered unacceptable.

Manifold, who previously served as chief executive of Irish building materials group CRH, had been in the BP chair role for fewer than eight months. His dismissal came as BP is executing a significant strategic pivot away from renewable energy and back toward oil and gas. O’Neill, formerly head of Woodside Energy, took the reins as CEO in early April and is steering that transition.

Also Read: BP Names Ian Tyler as Interim Chair After Manifold Exit

What Comes Next for BP Leadership

Interim chair Ian Tyler has taken over while BP launches a formal search for a permanent replacement. The company’s shares edged up 0.2% on Thursday morning, suggesting markets are largely unmoved by Manifold’s public rebuttal.

The leadership turbulence arrives at a delicate moment. Just weeks ago, Manifold faced a shareholder rebellion at BP’s annual general meeting, where only 81.8% of investors backed his re-election. While that figure clears the 50% threshold required, it falls well short of the near-unanimous support board members typically receive.

BP had not issued a fresh response to Manifold’s Thursday letter at the time of publication.

Read Next: BP Pivots Back to Oil and Gas Under New CEO Meg O’Neill