BP Ousts Chair Albert Manifold Over Conduct Concerns

BP has removed its board chair over what the company described as serious governance and conduct failings, the BBC reported Tuesday.

Albert Manifold was ousted after the board raised alarms over his handling of key oversight responsibilities. Senior independent director Amanda Blanc said the board had been caught off guard by the issues uncovered. She described the concerns as unacceptable and said the company had moved swiftly to address them.

Ian Tyler has been named interim chair, effective immediately.

A Short and Turbulent Tenure

Manifold had held the chair role for less than a year before his removal. His exit marks one of the most abrupt boardroom departures at a major British energy company in recent memory.

BP offered few specific details about the nature of the conduct concerns. The company said the issues related to important governance standards, oversight, and behaviour at the board level. The terse language of the announcement suggested the board wanted to move quickly and limit further damage to the company’s reputation.

Tyler, who steps into the interim role, is a familiar face in UK corporate boardrooms. His appointment signals the board’s desire for stability at a time of significant external pressure on the energy sector.

BP Under the Microscope

The leadership upheaval comes at a particularly difficult moment for BP. The company has faced sustained scrutiny over its strategy, its pace of energy transition, and its financial performance amid volatile oil prices linked partly to Middle East tensions.

Rival Shell recently reported a sharp rise in profits driven by oil price swings following disruption to tanker routes near the Strait of Hormuz. BP, by contrast, has been navigating both external commodity pressures and internal questions about its long-term direction.

The removal of Manifold adds a fresh layer of uncertainty at the top of the organisation. Investors and analysts will now be watching closely to see whether a permanent chair search begins quickly or whether Tyler’s interim role extends well into the second half of the year.

What Comes Next for BP’s Leadership

BP’s board faces the twin task of restoring confidence in its governance and maintaining operational focus. Finding a permanent replacement with strong credibility in both energy markets and ESG oversight will not be straightforward.

The episode underscores how swiftly reputational and governance risks can escalate at board level, even at the world’s most established energy companies.

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