Manifold’s Eight Months As Bp Chair
Manifold was appointed to BP’s board in October 2025 as part of a broader effort for the company to regain investor confidence. He opened his short tenure by reportedly asking employees to act with “urgency” to cut costs, sell assets and improve profits, as well as boosting investments in fossil fuels after a failed bet on renewable energy. Manifold then played a role in removing former CEO Murray Auchincloss and the appointment of former Exxon executive Meg O’Neill in December.
Key Background
Manifold’s appointment as BP’s chair followed years of the oil giant falling behind its rivals and leadership turmoil at the firm. Auchincloss was appointed as BP’s chief executive following the resignation of Bernard Looney, who stepped down in 2023 after Looney failed to disclose past relationships with colleagues. Looney, who started with the British oil company in 1991 and worked his way up to CEO in 2020, was said to be the leader to transition BP into renewable energy and he himself advocated for cutting the company’s emissions to net zero by 2050.
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Further Reading
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