BP Sacks Chair Albert Manifold In Fresh Boardroom Bombshell As Governance Crisis Deepens
Synopsis
BP has ousted chair Albert Manifold after serious governance and conduct concerns emerged, marking another major leadership upheaval at the energy giant.
BP has abruptly removed chair Albert Manifold after the board raised serious concerns about governance standards, oversight and conduct, triggering another major leadership crisis at the energy giant, according to Reuters. The shock exit sent BP shares tumbling as much as 10% on Tuesday and added to growing instability at the company following years of executive upheaval and strategic uncertainty.
Key highlights
- BP removed chair Albert Manifold with immediate effect
- The board cited governance, oversight and conduct concerns
- Shares fell as much as 10% following the announcement
- Sources said complaints involved aggressive behaviour toward colleagues
- BP has now changed CEOs and chairs multiple times since 2020
- Ian Tyler appointed interim chair
BP Board Moves Against Manifold
BP said its board unanimously decided that Manifold should step down immediately as both chair and director after concerns emerged over his behaviour and governance practices.
The company said the decision followed issues linked to “important governance standards, oversight and conduct”.
Sources familiar with the matter told Reuters the board reviewed information following a whistleblower complaint and concluded there was a pattern of unacceptable behaviour.
Several sources alleged Manifold had acted aggressively toward colleagues across the company.
Manifold later denied wrongdoing in comments to Bloomberg, saying he had been removed “without warning and without explanation” and disputed the claims surrounding his conduct.
Shares Slide As Leadership Turmoil Intensifies
BP shares dropped almost 10% after the announcement before recovering some losses later in the session.
The latest upheaval deepens concerns around stability at the oil major, which has seen repeated leadership changes in recent years.
Former CEO Bernard Looney was dismissed in 2023 after failing to fully disclose personal relationships with colleagues.
His successor Murray Auchincloss left abruptly in late 2025 before Meg O'Neill took over as CEO.
O’Neill is expected to accelerate BP’s renewed focus on oil and gas production after scaling back parts of the company’s renewable energy ambitions.
Governance Concerns Back In Spotlight
The latest boardroom crisis also places fresh attention on BP’s corporate governance standards.
At BP’s annual shareholder meeting earlier this year, Manifold received unusually weak support for his appointment as chair.
Proxy adviser Glass Lewis had criticised BP over its handling of shareholder climate resolutions and recommended investors vote against Manifold.
The chair ultimately secured support from around 82% of shareholders, well below the near-unanimous backing typically received by directors at major listed companies.
Interim Chair Named
BP appointed Ian Tyler as interim chair following Manifold’s departure. Tyler previously led Balfour Beatty and joined BP’s board last year.
Manifold had originally been appointed in 2025 amid mounting pressure over BP’s underperforming share price and takeover speculation.
Before joining BP, he built his reputation as chief executive of CRH, where he oversaw a major restructuring and moved the company’s primary listing to the United States.
FAQs
Q1: Why did BP remove Albert Manifold?
BP said the board had serious concerns regarding governance standards, oversight and conduct.
Q2: How did markets react?
BP shares fell as much as 10% after the announcement before trimming some losses.
Q3: Who replaced Albert Manifold?
BP appointed Ian Tyler as interim chair.
Q4: What were the allegations against Manifold?
Sources said complaints involved aggressive behaviour toward colleagues and governance concerns raised through a whistleblower process.
Q5: Has BP faced leadership instability before?
Yes. BP has experienced multiple CEO and board changes in recent years, including the departure of former CEO Bernard Looney in 2023.
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