BP Names Ian Tyler as Permanent Chair Following Albert Manifold Departure

BP announced the permanent appointment of Ian Tyler as chair, concluding a months-long search initiated after the controversial departure of Albert Manifold in May.

Tyler, who has served as interim chair and board member since April 2025, assumes the position effective immediately.

The leadership change follows Manifold’s abrupt exit eight months into his tenure, with BP citing concerns over governance oversight and conduct.

Amanda Blanc, BP’s senior independent director who led the search committee and also serves as CEO of Aviva, announced her intention to step down at next year’s AGM.

Blanc faced criticism during Manifold’s brief tenure, having overseen the appointment process that initially replaced Helge Lund. Following Manifold’s departure, Blanc stated that while he had contributed to BP’s transformation, there were “governance oversight and conduct issues it [the board] deems unacceptable.”

Reports suggested senior colleagues felt undermined by Manifold, who was accused of exercising excessive control akin to an executive role rather than fulfilling chair duties.

Manifold rejected the allegations, claiming he was dismissed without prior notice and disputed the characterization of his behavior.

Tyler, a seasoned executive with extensive non-executive experience, previously led construction firm Balfour Beatty. He currently chairs Grafton Group and serves as senior independent director at Anglo American. His career includes former chairmanships at Cairn Energy and Vistry Group, along with board roles at BAE Systems.

His mandate includes guiding BP’s strategic pivot toward prioritizing fossil fuel development while scaling back renewable energy investments. CEO Meg O’Neill recently urged policymakers to leverage the UK’s oil and gas reserves, despite BP’s plans to divest its North Sea operations.

O’Neill emphasized that North Sea assets remain “not competitive” within BP’s broader portfolio, even as the company reported its strongest quarterly profits since 2022, driven by elevated energy prices linked to the Middle East conflict.

Blanc commented: “I am delighted that the board has unanimously appointed Ian Tyler as chair of BP. Ian brings significant experience providing challenge and support to executive teams, while maintaining strong governance and oversight on behalf of shareholders.”

Tyler stated: “I will lead the board’s evolution, ensuring we have the depth, experience and capabilities needed to support the company’s strategic priorities and long-term value creation. I am committed to establishing regular and transparent engagement with our shareholders.”

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