Albert Manifold, the ousted chair of BP, has hit back at allegations about his conduct, describing them as “lies”. In a statement, Manifold disputed reports that he was aggressive towards colleagues and said no one had raised any issues with him during his tenure.
Manifold, who was appointed in October 2025 and left the role after less than a year, said he had only spent 13 days in BP’s London office this year. He dismissed claims that he wanted to exert control like an executive chair as “nonsense”.
BP announced Manifold’s departure on Tuesday, citing serious concerns about his governance standards, oversight and conduct. The company stood by its statement on Thursday, saying it had a duty of care to employees impacted by his behaviour.
Manifold conceded he may have “pushed hard and challenged people directly” but said there was a distance between driving urgency and the characterisation of his conduct. He noted that such accusations had not been made during his 40-year career.
He also highlighted that he turned down benefits such as chauffeur-driven cars and private jets, making his own coffee and buying lunch from a local cafe to set an example during cost-cutting. Ian Tyler has been appointed interim chair.
