BP has named Ian Tyler as its permanent chair, bringing an end to a turbulent period of leadership upheaval at the FTSE 100 oil giant.
Tyler had been serving as interim chair since 26 May, following the dramatic removal of his predecessor from the role earlier this year.
He originally joined BP as a non-executive director in April 2025, making his rise to the permanent chair position a relatively swift one.
Tyler replaces Albert Manifold, who was stripped of his roles as both chair and director of the company in May after taking the reins in July 2025.
Manifold’s ousting was reported to have stemmed from his “volcanic” temper towards colleagues, with allegations stretching to verbal abuse and bullying within the boardroom.
Manifold has disputed the characterisation of his conduct, and the circumstances surrounding his removal caused significant turbulence at one of Britain’s most prominent energy companies.
BP director Amanda Blanc, who also serves as chief executive of insurer Aviva, addressed the situation at the time with a pointed statement on behalf of the board.
Blanc said: “The board has been surprised and disappointed to learn of governance oversight and conduct issues it deems unacceptable and has taken decisive action.”
Blanc subsequently led the search for Manifold’s replacement, ultimately settling on Tyler as the candidate best suited to stabilise the company’s leadership.
She described Tyler as bringing “significant experience providing challenge and support to executive teams, while maintaining strong governance and oversight on behalf of shareholders.”
The boardroom upheaval at BP extended beyond the chair position, with the company also seeing a change at the very top of its executive leadership.
Former chief executive Murray Auchincloss departed his role after just under two years in the position, adding further instability to BP’s senior ranks.
He was replaced by former Woodside chief executive Meg O’Neill, who formally stepped into the chief executive role in April, signalling a significant generational shift in BP’s strategic direction.
Tyler’s confirmation as permanent chair will now be closely watched by investors, who have endured months of uncertainty over the governance of one of the UK’s largest listed companies.