BP has removed Albert Manifold as chair and director with immediate effect, citing serious concerns over governance standards, oversight and conduct at the oil major.
The BP board voted unanimously to remove Manifold, who had only taken the chair role in October 2024 to help oversee a significant strategic shift at the company.
In a statement, BP said: “This follows serious concerns raised to the board related to important governance standards, oversight and conduct.”
Senior independent director Amanda Blanc, who had overseen Manifold’s original appointment, addressed the removal directly in the same statement issued by the company on Tuesday.
“Albert has helped bring a welcome focus and pace to BP’s transformation. However, the board has been surprised and disappointed to learn of governance oversight and conduct issues it deems unacceptable and has taken decisive action,” Blanc said.
A BP spokesperson declined to provide further details on the specific nature of the concerns raised against Manifold.
Manifold had been brought in to steer BP’s strategic pivot away from renewable energy and back toward fossil fuels, a direction first announced by his predecessor Murray Auchincloss early in 2025.
During his tenure, Manifold oversaw the appointment of former Woodside CEO Meg O’Neill as BP’s chief executive, making her the fifth person to hold the top job at the company since 2020.
BP has experienced significant leadership instability in recent years. Former CEO Bernard Looney was fired less than three years ago after lying to the board about personal relationships.
Auchincloss, who replaced Looney, then departed abruptly in December, with BP offering no public search process or clear explanation for his exit at the time.
Manifold had already faced shareholder scrutiny before his removal. At BP’s annual general meeting in April, his appointment as chair received support from only around 82% of votes cast.
That figure falls well below the near 100% approval typically seen for board director appointments at major listed companies.
Proxy adviser Glass Lewis had recommended shareholders vote against Manifold ahead of the AGM, holding him accountable for BP’s decision to exclude a resolution filed by climate activist group Follow This.
At the same AGM, BP’s board failed to secure shareholder approval on two separate resolutions, reflecting broader tensions between the company’s leadership and its investor base.
The European Commission separately confirmed on Tuesday that it had granted permission for BP to sell its refinery in the German city of Gelsenkirchen, adding to a busy day of corporate news for the FTSE-listed energy group.