BP Appoints Ian Tyler as Permanent Chair After Ousting Albert Manifold
Synopsis
BP has appointed Ian Tyler as permanent chairman after removing Albert Manifold over governance and conduct concerns, adding another chapter to the oil giant’s leadership overhaul.
BP has appointed former Balfour Beatty CEO Ian Tyler as its permanent chairman, replacing Albert Manifold less than four months after the oil giant abruptly removed him over governance and conduct concerns.
Tyler, who joined BP’s board last year, had served as interim chair since Manifold’s dismissal in May.
He will now take the permanent role as BP attempts to stabilise its leadership while pursuing a renewed focus on oil and gas under CEO Meg O’Neill.
Tyler also chairs building materials group Grafton Group and serves as senior independent director of Anglo American.
Another Leadership Shake-Up at BP
The appointment follows one of the most turbulent periods in BP’s recent history. Manifold became chairman in October 2025 but was removed after less than eight months when the board said it had serious concerns about governance standards, oversight and conduct.
Manifold has rejected BP’s characterisation of events, saying he was removed without warning and disputing what he described as a “false narrative”. He has retained law firm Mishcon de Reya in relation to his dismissal.
Reuters previously reported that Manifold had met activist investor Elliott Management without directly informing other board members, while sources also cited complaints about his behaviour towards staff. The meetings were not described as a specific rule breach and were not considered the main reason for his removal.
Tyler Faces a Bigger Governance Test
Tyler’s permanent appointment comes with another boardroom change. Senior independent director Amanda Blanc, who oversaw both Manifold’s and Tyler’s appointments, will not seek re-election at next year’s annual general meeting and will leave once a successor is appointed.
Tyler has also indicated he will review his existing board commitments to ensure he can devote enough time to BP. That will matter as the company continues its strategic reset after years of leadership turnover.
BP has had five CEOs since 2020, while Manifold’s removal made Tyler the company’s third chairman in less than three years.
For BP, the challenge now extends beyond strategy. Tyler must restore confidence in the boardroom while keeping investors focused on the company’s attempt to improve performance through its renewed oil and gas emphasis.
Source: Reuters
Vishal is an experienced Editor at Inspirepreneur Magazine with key interests in artificial intelligence, eCommerce, entrepreneurship, lifestyle and startup sector. Prior to joining Inspirepreneur, he was a Content Writer cum Correspondent at Siliconindia Magazine, where he worked on Company Profiles, Cover Stories, Executive Profiles, Feature Articles and Thought Leadership content.
