Oil giant BP has dismissed its chairman Albert Manifold with immediate effect following serious concerns about his behaviour, the BBC understands.
The company cited “serious concerns” related to “important governance standards, oversight and conduct” as the reason behind his removal.
Manifold had joined the company less than a year ago, making his departure one of the most abrupt exits in the company’s recent history.
BP declined to comment specifically on whether bullying behaviour formed part of the grounds for his dismissal.
Manifold rejected the reasons given for his removal, saying: “I dispute entirely the characterisation of my conduct and I will not allow a false narrative to go unchallenged.”
He further stated that he was “removed without warning and without explanation”, adding to the dramatic nature of the announcement.
One person close to the company said: “This is a big lever to pull, you wouldn’t do it unless it was serious.”
BP confirmed the board was unanimous in its decision to remove Manifold from the chairmanship.
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.”
Shares fell by approximately 5% following news of the removal, reflecting investor unease over the sudden leadership change at the top of the company.
Senior independent director Ian Tyler has been appointed interim chair with immediate effect while the company begins searching for a permanent replacement.
Manifold joined BP in September 2025 as a non-executive director before being appointed chair the following month, tasked with steering the company back toward oil and gas.
His removal follows BP reporting a doubling in profit driven by a surge in oil prices since the beginning of the Iran war.
The energy giant posted profits of $3.2bn between January and March, underpinned by what it described as an “exceptional” performance in its oil trading Business.
Manifold’s tenure was already under pressure following last month’s annual general meeting, where nearly a fifth of BP shareholders voted against his election over governance concerns.
The criticism was partly linked to BP’s refusal to include a resolution filed by climate activists at its AGM, with Manifold arguing the resolution had not been filed correctly.
Nick Butler, a former head of strategy at BP, told the BBC the lesson from Manifold’s exit was that BP “needs a board that really understands the industry.”
Butler said BP is navigating “a very complicated environment,” adding: “It’s not just the Middle East war which is shaking up the energy market — it’s also the unresolved issue of climate change.”
AJ Bell’s investment director Russ Mould noted attempts to move AGMs to an online-only format and change how BP reported on climate issues had not “sat well” with investors.
Interim chair Tyler said the board had “deep conviction” in the company’s strategic direction and had been “very impressed” with chief executive Meg O’Neill since she took over last December.
Tyler praised O’Neill, saying: “She has already taken bold action to simplify and strengthen the organisation such as announcing the move to a clearly defined upstream/downstream model.”
Maurizio Carulli, global energy analyst at Quilter Cheviot, described Manifold’s departure as a “short-term negative” but said BP had made “significant operational improvements and strategic refocusing over the past year.”