BP has confirmed Ian Tyler as its new chair on a permanent basis, ending a months-long search process initiated by the departure of Albert Manifold. Tyler, who has served as interim chair since Manifold’s removal in late May, previously held the position of chief executive at the construction firm Balfour Beatty and currently chairs the builders merchants Grafton Group.
Manifold’s tenure as chair lasted only eight months before the board cited “serious concerns” regarding his conduct and governance approach. Reports indicated that colleagues felt belittled by his management style, with accusations of aggressive behavior and acting as though he held an executive rather than board-level position. Manifold disputed these characterizations and claimed the company terminated him without adequate notice.
Amanda Blanc, the senior independent director who led the recruitment process, announced her decision to step down at the company’s next annual meeting. She faced criticism for endorsing Manifold’s initial appointment, having previously praised his performance orientation before later acknowledging governance and conduct issues within his brief tenure. Blanc came under scrutiny as the process that brought Manifold in reflected poorly on her judgment when his short chairmanship ended.
Tyler brings extensive board experience, having previously chaired Cairn Energy and Vistry Group while serving as a non-executive director at BAE Systems and Anglo American. The board tasked him with overseeing BP’s strategic shift toward recommitting to fossil fuel extraction following a period focused on renewable energy investments. BP’s current chief executive, Meg O’Neill, took office in April and represents the third person in that role within less than five years, following previous departures amid strategic disagreements.
Activist shareholders expressed skepticism regarding governance improvements. Follow This, a Dutch shareholder advocacy group, noted that Tyler’s board membership since early 2025 potentially implicates him in existing governance challenges. The organization referenced significant shareholder opposition at the previous annual meeting, including an 18% vote against Manifold’s re-election and more than half opposing climate reporting changes.
Article Attribution | Read More at Article Source
Article summary produced by Claude AI