Albert Manifold, the outgoing chairman of BP, has publicly disputed claims about his conduct following his sudden removal from the oil major's leadership role.
In an emailed message to CNBC, Manifold said he was removed from his post "without warning and without explanation" and rejected assertions that his behaviour warranted dismissal. He stressed that during his time as chairman he sought to push substantive changes at BP, saying he worked to "cut costs, challenge excess, and hold the organisation to higher standards." Manifold added that he "disputes entirely the characterisation of my conduct and I will not allow a false narrative to go unchallenged."
BP's board announced the decision to remove Manifold on Tuesday, attributing the move to "serious concerns" tied to governance standards, oversight and conduct. The board's statement framed the action as a response to issues it deemed incompatible with expected governance norms.
Amanda Blanc, serving as BP's senior independent director, acknowledged Manifold's role in the company's transformation efforts but said the board had been "surprised and disappointed to learn of governance oversight and conduct issues it deems unacceptable." Her comments signalled the board's view that the matters at hand crossed thresholds for continued leadership.
Several media outlets have reported that Manifold displayed aggressive behaviour toward colleagues during his time at BP, reporting specific concerns about his interactions while in the role. Those reports were cited alongside the board's public explanation.
Manifold had previously been chief executive of CRH, the Irish building materials group, and had held the BP chairmanship for about seven months before his removal. The company did not provide further public detail about the specific incidents or the process that led to the board's decision beyond its reference to governance, oversight and conduct concerns.
Context and implications
- Manifold's statement underscores his position that he was taken out of office abruptly and without a detailed public explanation.
- The board's language points to governance and conduct issues as central to the removal decision.
- Media reports of aggressive behaviour toward colleagues were cited in coverage of the episode.
The facts publicly available are limited to the board's notice of removal, Manifold's emailed refutation of the characterisation of his conduct, Amanda Blanc's comments, and media reports referencing alleged aggressive behaviour. No additional specifics about the alleged conduct or the board's investigative process were provided in the statements cited.