Albert Manifold Ousted As BP Chair Over Governance And Conduct Concerns

Global energy giant BP has abruptly removed Albert Manifold from his position as chairman after the company’s board raised serious concerns about governance standards, oversight, and workplace conduct. The decision was announced by BP on Tuesday and immediately shocked investors, employees, and financial markets because Manifold had only been in the role for less than eight months.

According to BP, the board acted unanimously after receiving information linked to concerns over Manifold’s leadership style and behavior inside the company. Several reports said complaints were connected to aggressive conduct toward colleagues and internal governance practices that board members considered unacceptable. Sources close to the matter claimed a whistleblower report played an important role in triggering the investigation that eventually led to his removal.

BP senior independent director Amanda Blanc said the board had been “surprised and disappointed” by the issues discovered during the review. While the company acknowledged that Manifold helped accelerate BP’s transformation strategy, directors ultimately decided that the concerns were too serious to ignore. BP confirmed that Ian Tyler has now been appointed interim chairman while the company begins the search for a permanent replacement.

The sudden leadership change created immediate uncertainty in financial markets. BP shares dropped sharply in both London and US trading after the announcement, with the stock falling as much as 9 to 10 percent at one stage before recovering slightly later in the day. Investors appeared worried about the company’s stability, especially as BP has already faced major leadership changes over the last few years.

Albert Manifold, the former chief executive of Irish building materials company CRH, joined BP in late 2025 as part of an effort to reshape the company’s strategy. During his short tenure, he pushed BP to focus more heavily on oil and gas production again after years of strong investment in renewable energy projects. His approach received support from some investors who believed BP had moved too aggressively toward green energy, but it also faced criticism from environmental groups and climate-focused shareholders.

The controversy comes during a difficult period for BP. The company has experienced repeated leadership turmoil since 2023, when former CEO Bernard Looney resigned after misconduct-related issues involving personal relationships with colleagues. BP later appointed Meg O’Neill as its new chief executive in another major management change. Analysts say the latest boardroom crisis could damage investor confidence further if the company fails to stabilize its leadership structure quickly.

Some shareholder groups had already expressed concerns about Manifold before his removal. Earlier this year, a significant number of investors voted against his appointment as chairman during BP’s annual shareholder meeting. Critics argued that some of his proposed governance changes would reduce transparency around climate reporting and long-term energy transition planning. Advisory firms and institutional investors also questioned whether BP was moving too aggressively back toward fossil fuel expansion.

Despite the leadership turmoil, BP said its broader business strategy remains unchanged for now. Interim chairman Ian Tyler expressed support for CEO Meg O’Neill and said the company remains focused on financial discipline, operational performance, and shareholder value. However, analysts believe BP now faces growing pressure to restore trust among investors, employees, and regulators after another major governance crisis at the top of the company.