BP Chairman Albert Manifold Ousted Amid Misconduct Allegations

BP has removed its chairman, Albert Manifold, following board concerns regarding his conduct, and governance.

The company stated that there had been serious concerns regarding the behaviour of the Irish businessman.

People familiar with the matter indicated that the board’s decision followed multiple whistleblower complaints involving allegations of overbearing behaviour and bullying.

Manifold has strongly contested the claims. He informed the Financial Times that the decision to remove him came out of the blue.

Through a spokesperson, Manifold stated that he would contest the allegations regarding his behaviour, asserting that his tenure was focused on improving the company’s operations.

I dispute entirely the characterisation of my conduct and I will not allow a false narrative to go unchallenged

Albert Manifold

Manifold claimed he had worked to drive genuine change at BP – cutting costs, challenging excess, and holding the organisation to higher standards.

Corporate Governance and Leadership Transitions

The removal of Manifold adds to a period of significant leadership turnover at the energy company. In the last three years, BP has replaced two chairs and two chief executives.

In late 2025, Manifold played a key role in persuading Meg O’Neill to accept the position of chief executive. The role had been perceived as difficult within the industry following two departures in a three-year span.

Critics suggest that the repeated leadership changes are a sign that the company has become difficult to govern, following a pivot toward renewable energy that left BP behind its competitors.

Market Reaction

The announcement of the chairman’s removal impacted the company’s valuation. BP shares fell 4 per cent on May 26, 2026.

The decline occurred despite the fact that BP shares had risen faster than those of Shell earlier in the year on expectations of a corporate turnaround.

Paul Sankey, founder of Sankey Research, commented that the leadership instability creates another ridiculous level of uncertainty at a time when radical restructuring is called for.