Albert Manifold disputed allegations about his conduct after BP removed him as chair, escalating a public rift during the company’s strategic reset.
Albert Manifold pushed back Thursday against the circumstances of his removal as BP chair, rejecting what he called “lies” about his conduct after the company’s board ousted him over concerns tied to governance, oversight and behavior.
The dispute has opened a public rift at the top of BP at a sensitive moment for the British energy major, which is undergoing a strategic reset and moving back toward oil and gas after a period of heavier emphasis on renewables.
In a letter published Thursday, Manifold said he accepted the board’s decision to remove him but did not accept “that lies can be told about me, nor that anyone should be allowed to hide behind anonymity when commenting on my time at bp.”
Manifold, the former chief executive of Irish building materials group CRH, acknowledged that he had “pushed hard and challenged people directly” during his brief tenure. But he said there was a “considerable distance” between pushing the company with urgency and the way his conduct was being described. He also said no one at BP had raised concerns about his conduct with him while he was chair.
BP did not retreat from its position. A company spokesperson said BP noted Manifold’s comments and added: “We stand by the statement we have made. We have a duty of care to all our employees, particularly those impacted by his behavior.”
The board announced Manifold’s removal Tuesday, citing “serious concerns” related to governance standards, oversight and conduct. BP appointed Ian Tyler as interim chair and said a search process for a permanent chair would begin.
Multiple media outlets have reported that Manifold acted aggressively toward colleagues during his nearly eight months at BP, citing anonymous sources. Manifold also dismissed reports that he had sought a more executive role at the London-listed company as “nonsense,” saying he had been to BP’s London head office on about 13 days in 2026.
The leadership change came as Meg O’Neill, the former Woodside Energy boss, leads BP’s transformation after becoming chief executive at the start of April. Amanda Blanc, BP’s senior independent director, thanked Manifold for his contribution to that effort but said the board had been surprised and disappointed by issues it deemed unacceptable.
Manifold had already faced investor resistance. At BP’s annual general meeting last month, 81.8% of shareholders voted to elect him after a contentious decision to block a proposal from Dutch activist group Follow This. Directors require more than 50% support to be elected, but they typically receive support levels close to 100%.
BP shares traded 0.4% lower Thursday morning. The company’s next step is the search for a permanent chair, while the competing accounts of Manifold’s conduct remain sharply disputed.
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