BP removed Albert Manifold as chairman with immediate effect earlier this week, and on Thursday he hit back, saying he did not accept the "lies" surrounding his behaviour. The abrupt exit has put BP’s governance back under a harsh light at a time when investors were already asking hard questions about the company’s direction.
Manifold said no-one should be "allowed to hide behind anonymity" when commenting on his time at BP, and he disputed entirely the characterisation of his conduct. "In my 40-year working career, I have never once had accusations made against me such as those made in recent days," he said, adding that his priorities as chairman, especially shareholder interests, were not always shared by everyone. He also said he called out unnecessary or excessive expenditure and had no interest in taking private aviation or availing himself of corporate tickets for sports events. "I made my own coffee and bought my lunch in the local cafe," he said.
The removal matters because BP is not treating this as a routine boardroom reshuffle. On Tuesday, senior independent director Amanda Blanc said the board had been "surprised and disappointed to learn of governance oversight and conduct issues it deems unacceptable" and had taken decisive action. BP also said it had a duty of care to employees affected by his behaviour, while a spokesperson later said the company stood by its statement. The board’s move was unanimous.
That comes after nearly a fifth of BP shareholders voted against Manifold’s election at last month’s annual general meeting over concerns about governance. He joined BP last September and was appointed chair the following month, after the company said he had a strong track record of strategic leadership and operational delivery. The has reported that the concerns included bullying and overbearing behaviour, though BP has declined to say whether bullying was part of the reason for his immediate dismissal.
Manifold’s central complaint is that the ground beneath him shifted without warning. He said issues about his conduct or relationships with colleagues were never raised during his time as chairman, and he said he had never once faced accusations like those made in recent days. BP has not publicly set out the specific incidents or evidence behind the decision, leaving the board’s most serious action in years hanging on a statement that accuses him of unacceptable behaviour but does not yet explain it in public.
