BP was a ‘tough gig’, admits Blanc as she nears exit

By the Editorial Team · Wednesday, September 30, 2026

Dame Amanda Blanc, CEO of Aviva, reflected on the difficulties she encountered as senior independent director at BP, where she led leadership changes including the appointment and removal of chairman Albert Manifold. Her departure next year comes amid scrutiny over BP’s governance challenges and ongoing concerns about flood risk from new UK housing developments in vulnerable areas.

Dame Amanda Blanc, chief executive of the FTSE 100 insurer Aviva, has acknowledged the challenges she faced in her role as senior independent director on BP’s board, as she prepares to step down next year. Blanc, 59, played a central role in recent leadership changes at the oil company, including the appointment and subsequent removal of former chairman Albert Manifold.

Blanc led the selection process that appointed Manifold as BP chairman last year. However, Manifold was ousted in May over what the company described as "serious concerns" relating to governance standards, oversight, and conduct. Following his departure, Blanc oversaw the appointment of Ian Tyler, a BP non-executive director who had served as interim chairman, as Manifold’s permanent successor this month.

The turmoil within BP’s board has prompted scrutiny regarding Blanc’s effectiveness in her senior independent director role and raised questions about whether her commitments at BP distracted from her leadership responsibilities at Aviva. Speaking on the BBC’s Big Boss Interview podcast, Blanc described her time with BP as “a tough gig,” citing the significant pressures the company has experienced.

During Manifold’s brief tenure, BP underwent key executive changes, including the replacement of CEO Murray Auchincloss with Meg O’Neill, who assumed the role in April. Shortly after Manifold’s removal, anonymous sources accused him of bullying behavior, allegations he has denied, calling them “lies.”

Blanc expressed confidence in the current leadership, describing O’Neill and Tyler as “a good combination to take BP forward.” She declined to provide further details on the internal issues at the company, emphasizing that shareholders and employees should look to the CEO and chairman for information.

Separately on the podcast, Blanc highlighted concerns about flood risk related to housing developments. She noted that over the past decade, 110,000 homes have been built in flood-prone areas in the UK. If current trends continue, an additional 115,000 new properties could be constructed in such zones over the next ten years, potentially making them uninsurable.

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