BP plunges into fresh boardroom crisis as chairman Albert Manifold is ousted after only eight months—and he hits back
The British energy giant removed Albert Manifold on Tuesday over whistleblower complaints, triggering his furious rebuttal and reigniting concerns about chronic leadership instability.
Abrupt Removal
BP's board removed Chairman Albert Manifold on Tuesday with immediate effect, citing "serious concerns" related to his conduct, governance oversight and behaviour. The decision came just eight months after the Irish businessman took the role in October 2025. Manifold told the Financial Times the dismissal came "out of the blue" and he "disputes entirely" the characterisation of his actions.
I was removed without warning and without explanation.... I dispute entirely the characterisation of my conduct and I will not allow a false narrative to go unchallenged.
Whistleblower Complaints and Board Fallout
Sources close to the board indicated that multiple whistleblower complaints had been made about alleged bullying and aggressive conduct towards BP staff. The Italian daily Il Messaggero reported that the board had been discussing the matter for some time and that Manifold may have also shared sensitive internal information. Senior independent director Amanda Blanc acknowledged Manifold's contribution but said the board had to act.
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.
A Forceful Change Agent
Manifold, a former CEO of Irish building materials group CRH, was brought in to restore investor confidence after years of strategic turmoil. He immediately pushed for a hard-nosed focus on profitability, driving the company back towards oil and gas. His arrival followed a disastrous foray into renewables under former CEO Bernard Looney and previous chairman Helge Lund, which had left BP trailing competitors. Manifold demanded urgency, telling employees to prepare for difficult decisions and asset disposals. Within months he oversaw the replacement of CEO Murray Auchincloss with Meg O'Neill, the former Woodside Energy boss and the first woman to lead a major oil company. In February, before O'Neill took office, BP suspended its share buyback programme to reduce debt. Under his watch, the company shed most of its low-carbon businesses, cut thousands of jobs, and sold $15 billion in assets in 2025 alone.
- Albert Manifold appointed BP chairman
- CEO Murray Auchincloss replaced by Meg O'Neill
- Share buyback programme suspended
- Meg O'Neill takes office as BP CEO
- Board removes Chairman Albert Manifold over conduct concerns
Deepening Governance Crisis
Manifold is the second Irish executive to be ousted from BP in three years, following former CEO Bernard Looney's resignation in 2023 over undisclosed relationships with colleagues. The company has now replaced two CEOs and two chairs since 2023, fuelling fears that the board is becoming ungovernable. Insiders described Manifold as a divisive figure who sometimes overstepped his role, acting more like an executive than a chairman. Analyst Paul Sankey warned the upheaval creates unnecessary instability.
This just creates another ridiculous level of uncertainty at a time when radical restructuring is called for.
Market Jitters and a Brighter Operating Picture
BP shares fell 4% on Tuesday after the announcement, paring gains that had pushed the stock up more than 20% since Manifold's arrival. The sell-off came despite BP's strong operating momentum: first‑quarter profits more than doubled to $3.2 billion, buoyed by surging oil prices from the Iran conflict. The company, which has little production in the Persian Gulf, is seen as relatively well positioned even as it grapples with its latest boardroom drama. The board appointed Ian Tyler as interim chairman while it searches for a permanent replacement.
