BP boardroom turmoil deepens as ousted chair hits back at lies' over conduct

Albert Manifold was removed as BP chair with immediate effect after less than a year in the role. He denied allegations about his conduct, stating that no issues about his conduct or relationships were raised with him during his tenure. He rejected media claims that he sought to control BP like an executive chair, and said he had many other commitments, spending only 13 days in BP’s London office so far that year. BP cited serious concerns about governance standards, oversight, and conduct. Reports from anonymous sources described aggressive behavior toward colleagues. Manifold challenged the anonymous claims, said he may have pushed hard to drive change, and argued there is a distance between urgency in leadership and characterizations of his conduct.

"In a new and lengthy statement, Manifold disputed reports about his conduct, insisting at no point in my tenure as chairman of BP has anyone raised with me any issue about my conduct or my relationship with my colleagues. He also described media reports that he wanted to exert control of the FTSE 100 company like an executive chair as nonsense. He stated he had many other commitments and had only spent 13 days in BP's London office so far this year."

"BP announced Manifold's departure with immediate effect on Tuesday after less than a year in the role, expressing serious concerns about his governance standards, oversight and conduct. Multiple media reports, citing anonymous sources at the company, described Manifold's behaviour with different colleagues across the company as aggressive. On Thursday, Manifold challenged those reports, saying: What I do not accept is that lies can be told about me, nor that anyone should be allowed to hide behind anonymity when commenting on my time at BP."

"Manifold's departure from BP came less than eight months after his appointment in October 2025, which came after serving more than a decade as the chief executive of the Irish building materials company CRH. He was tasked at BP with overseeing the continued change in the oil company's strategy, to refocus on fossil fuel extraction and ditch renewable energy investments after the company's abandoned attempt to reinvent itself as a net zero energy company."

"Manifold conceded he may have pushed hard and challenged people directly amid his determination to drive change on costs, performance, the balance sheet and shareholder communications. However, he disputed reports from the company about his behaviour, adding: There is a considerable distance between driving an organisation with urgency and the characterisation of my conduct that is now being put about."

Read at www.theguardian.com