BP tasks independent director Amanda Blanc to lead search for next chair
BP Board Leadership Transition and Search Process
Amanda Blanc to Lead Chair Search
June 1 (Reuters) - BP has asked senior independent director Amanda Blanc to lead the search for the next chair, the energy company's interim chair Ian Tyler said in a statement to Reuters on Monday.
Board Involvement in the Selection Process
"As in previous searches this will be a rigorous process involving the entire Board and the final decision will reflect our collective view," Tyler said.
The Financial Times first reported the news.
Shareholder Sentiment and Previous Appointments
Concerns Over Amanda Blanc's Role
Multiple figures from London's financial centre including large investors in the oil giant told the newspaper that Blanc would lack the support from shareholders to make a second appointment to the post after former chair Albert Manifold's ouster just under eight months after his appointment.
Blanc's Previous Involvement
Blanc, who is also CEO of British insurer Aviva, also oversaw Manifold's appointment in October last year.
Recent BP Board Changes and Company Direction
Manifold's Ouster and Board Concerns
BP's board last week ousted Manifold expressing serious concerns about his governance standards, oversight and conduct, driving its share price down as much as 10%.
Management Churn and CEO Turnover
It followed years of management churn at BP. In 2023, former BP CEO Bernard Looney was fired after lying to the board about his personal relationships with colleagues. His successor, Murray Auchincloss, left abruptly in December 2025 with no clear reason, and former Woodside CEO Meg O'Neill was immediately announced as his replacement.
BP's Strategic Direction Under New Leadership
She is BP's fifth CEO since 2020, and is expected to accelerate the company's shift away from renewable energy to refocus on oil and gas.
(Reporting by Kanjyik Ghosh in Barcelona and Gnaneshwar Rajan in BengaluruEditing by Nick Zieminski)
