BP Appoints Ian Tyler as Permanent Chair Following Albert Manifold's Sudden Exit
BP has appointed Ian Tyler as its permanent chair, following the abrupt removal of former chair Albert Manifold in May 2026. Tyler had been serving as interim chair since then and now joins CEO Meg O'Neill at the helm during a period of strategic transformation for BP. The company cited governance concerns related to oversight and conduct as reasons for removing Manifold but provided no further details. Tyler brings extensive boardroom experience, having previously chaired Cairn Energy (now Capricorn Energy) and served on boards including BAE Systems. He is currently chair of Grafton Group and a senior independent director at Anglo American. His appointment aims to stabilize BP's leadership amid ongoing restructuring efforts under O'Neill’s new strategic direction. BP has shifted its strategy in 2025, focusing more heavily on upstream operations while reducing investment in transition businesses. Tyler plans to reshape the board for better alignment with these goals and enhance shareholder engagement.
