June 1 - BP has designated senior independent director Amanda Blanc to lead the process of identifying the company's next chair, interim chair Ian Tyler said in a statement. Tyler described the search as a rigorous exercise that will involve the entire board and produce a final decision reflecting the group's collective judgment.
"As in previous searches this will be a rigorous process involving the entire Board and the final decision will reflect our collective view," Tyler said.
The Financial Times first reported the development. Sources from London's financial community, including significant shareholders in the oil major, told the newspaper they believe Blanc may not secure shareholder support to appoint a second successive chair after the board removed Albert Manifold less than eight months after his installation.
Blanc, who also serves as chief executive of British insurer Aviva, was involved in Manifold's appointment in October of last year. BP's board moved to oust Manifold last week, citing serious concerns about his governance standards, oversight and conduct. The board's announcement coincided with a sharp market reaction in which BP's share price fell by as much as 10%.
The change in the chairmanship is the latest development amid a period of notable management churn at BP. In 2023, former CEO Bernard Looney was dismissed after he misled the board about personal relationships with colleagues. After Looney, Murray Auchincloss succeeded as CEO but departed abruptly in December 2025 for no publicly stated reason. The board then announced former Woodside CEO Meg O'Neill as Auchincloss's replacement.
O'Neill is the company's fifth CEO since 2020. She is expected to accelerate BP's strategic pivot away from renewable energy and to reorient the group toward oil and gas, according to the details provided in the company's recent leadership announcements.
The engagement of Blanc to run the chair search places the board at the center of a process that must balance governance concerns, shareholder confidence and the company's stated strategic direction. How shareholders ultimately respond to any proposed candidate remains uncertain, given the commentary from significant investors in London's markets.