• Appointment and early concerns
• Allegations of bullying and internal clashes
• Manifold’s defence and investor frustrations
• Aftermath and pressure on leadership

BP Removes Chairman Albert Manifold Amid Bullying Allegations BP’s experiment with a hard‑driving chairman has collapsed into a bullying scandal, exposing tensions inside the oil major’s boardroom just as it attempts a strategic turnaround.

§Appointment and early concerns

Albert Manifold was appointed BP chair despite concerns that the board was taking “an unwise gamble on a dominant executive”. Critics later argued that “BP should never have made Manifold chair”, suggesting governance safeguards were too weak from the outset.

§Allegations of bullying and internal clashes

Over time, Manifold’s management style became a flashpoint. His “hands-on approach was viewed as aggressive by several colleagues at [the] UK oil major”, leading to his removal as chair “after claims of bullying”. An in‑depth account described mounting unease over “BP’s boardroom ‘bullying’ scandal”, noting that his behaviour and use of personal devices were among the factors cited in his ouster.

The crisis intensified when it emerged that the “ousted BP chair Albert Manifold clashed with [the] company secretary before removal”, an episode after which Ben Mathews, the secretary, took time off work.

§Manifold’s defence and investor frustrations

Manifold has strongly rejected the characterisation of his conduct, with one account reporting that the “ousted BP chair hits out at ‘lies’ over his conduct” and insists he merely “pushed hard” at the FTSE oil group while disputing criticism of his behaviour.

Yet several large investors also struggled with his style. According to one report, “several BP shareholders found [the] ousted chair ‘challenging’” and said it was difficult to arrange meetings with him before his departure.

§Aftermath and pressure on leadership

The fallout has landed during a delicate transition under CEO Meg O’Neill. Coverage has cast her as “the no-nonsense CEO steering BP through crisis”, noting that the “‘bullying’ scandal that led to chair Albert Manifold’s removal coincides with an attempted turnaround” of the company. The episode now serves as a test of BP’s boardroom culture, investor relations and leadership credibility.

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