BP Sacks Chairman Albert Manifold Over Serious Conduct and Bullying Concerns

In a move that has sent shockwaves through the energy sector, oil giant BP has fired its chairman, Albert Manifold, with immediate effect. The decision comes after the board raised serious concerns regarding his conduct, oversight, and governance standards. While the company’s official statement was carefully worded, insiders suggest that allegations of bullying and overbearing behavior were at the heart of the dismissal.

The board’s decision was unanimous, with senior independent director Amanda Blanc expressing surprise and disappointment over the revelations. Manifold had only been with the company for a short time, having joined as a non-executive director in September 2025 and stepping into the chairman role just a month later. His mission was to steer the company back toward its core oil and gas operations and away from its recent focus on renewable energy.

This leadership crisis hits BP at a sensitive time. Despite the internal turmoil, the company recently reported massive profits of $3.2 billion for the first quarter of the year, driven by a surge in oil prices following international conflicts. However, the news of Manifold's departure caused BP’s shares to tumble by approximately 5% as investors reacted to the instability at the top.

Ian Tyler has been appointed as the interim chairman while the board searches for a permanent replacement. This is the second time in less than a year that BP has had to navigate a change in leadership at the highest level, following the departure of the previous chair, Helge Lund. For now, the focus remains on stabilizing the company and addressing the unacceptable conduct that led to this dramatic exit.

['#BP', '#AlbertManifold', '#CorporateConduct', '#BPBoardScandal']