Albert Manifold's planned board cuts at BP halted by his ousting

By the Editorial Team · Monday, July 6, 2026

Former BP chairman Albert Manifold was preparing to reduce the board size to under ten members and impose stricter tenure limits on non-executive directors before his unexpected removal in May. His departure halted these governance reforms and underscored continuing leadership challenges as BP adjusts to market pressures and new executive leadership.

Albert Manifold, the former chairman of BP, had been preparing significant changes to the company’s board structure before his abrupt departure in May, according to reports. Manifold sought to reduce the size of BP’s board to fewer than ten members and introduce stricter limits on the tenure of non-executive directors, but these plans were halted following his ousting.

Earlier in the year, Manifold had already overseen a reduction in the board’s size from 13 to ten members. However, he remained concerned that the board was still larger than necessary. As part of a governance review conducted by Independent Board Review, a consultancy led by Ffion Hague, the wife of former Tory leader Lord Hague, Manifold developed proposals to shrink the board further to eight members. The consultancy also examined the need to enforce shorter terms for non-executive directors, reflecting Manifold’s concerns over some members serving extended periods.

Manifold’s tenure as BP chairman lasted just eight months; he was removed from the role on May 26 amid “serious concerns raised to the board relating to important governance standards, oversight and conduct,” according to a statement from BP. Manifold, 63, previously served as chief executive of the Irish cement company CRH and was BP’s first-ever external chairman since its 117-year history. His appointment last year aimed to revitalize BP’s leadership after it fell behind competitor Shell in market performance.

His sudden departure surprised investors and occurred shortly after the company appointed Meg O’Neill, former head of Woodside, as its new chief executive. Following his removal, Manifold denied allegations that he had been overly aggressive or had bullied BP employees.

A spokesperson for BP stated that Manifold’s board reduction proposals were never formally presented to the full board and asserted that his dismissal was unrelated to these matters.

The developments at BP highlight ongoing challenges in governance and leadership amid the evolving pressures faced by major energy companies.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.