Ousted BP Chair Albert Manifold denied claims that he “bullied” colleagues in a new statement, though he acknowledged that he might have “pushed hard and challenged people directly.”
Earlier this week, BP announced Manifold’s departure “with immediate effect” following a unanimous board vote over “serious concerns” including governance oversight and conduct issues. Several media reports alleged Manifold had acted abusively toward colleagues.
The Financial Times reported his ouster followed “multiple” whistleblower complaints about his “bullying” of colleagues – including a “shouty” management style and talking down to employees at all levels.
“I fully accept that the members of the Board have made their decision that I am no longer to be Chairman and a Director of bp,” Manifold said in his page-long response released Thursday.
“What I do not accept is that lies can be told about me, nor that anyone should be allowed to hide behind anonymity when commenting on my time at bp.”
The exec said during his time at the oil giant, which lasted less than eight months, he focused on slashing costs, simplifying the company portfolio, strengthening the balance sheet and improving shareholder value.
“When I saw unnecessary or excessive expenditures, I called it out,” Manifold wrote.
He depicted himself as setting a good example by walking, taking taxis or riding the train to the office instead of using a chauffeur-driven limousine. He said he also made his own coffee and did not fly on private planes or accept glitzy corporate tickets to sporting events.
“Is it possible that in my determination to drive change on costs, performance, the balance sheet and shareholder communications, I pushed hard and challenged people directly? Yes, it is,” he wrote.
“But there is a considerable distance between driving an organisation with urgency and the characterisation of my conduct that is now being put about,” the ousted exec added.
He also praised CEO Meg O’Neill and CFO Kate Thompson as “among the finest people I have worked with,” saying he is “confident” in their ability to “do better for … shareholders.”
Though Manifold played a crucial role in swaying O’Neill to join BP just months ago, tensions between the two heated up as the businessman allegedly acted like he was tasked with running day-to-day operations, according to FT.
Manifold said he was only interested in serving as a part-time non-executive, visiting the London office just 13 days this year.
The FT also reported that many junior and senior colleagues at BP found Manifold “impossible to work with” since he “wanted to control everything.”
Two sources accused Manifold of violating BP policies by using personal accounts or devices for company business. A source close to Manifold denied this claim, saying it was BP that had emailed Manifold’s personal address.
Manifold – who came from Irish building supplies group CRH and had never held a job in the energy industry before coming to BP – was just the latest in a series of scandalous exits from the oil major.
In 2023, the company fired then-CEO Bernard Looney after he lied to the board about the extent of his personal relationships with employees.
BP lost another CEO in December, when Murray Auchincloss left without giving a clear reason for his sudden departure.
Manifold had helped persuade O’Neill to fill the chief executive seat last fall, becoming BP’s fifth CEO since 2020.
Shares in BP are down nearly 7% so far this week. The stock is up 43% over the past 12 months.
