bp names Albert Manifold as new chair

BP p.l.c. (bp) announced it has appointed Albert Manifold to succeed Helge Lund as chair of the company. Manifold will join the company’s board on Sept. 1 as non-executive director and chair-elect, and will take over as chair on Oct. 1. At that point, Helge Lund will step down as chair and as a director of the bp board.

Albert Manifold. (Photo: bp)

From January 2014 until December 2024, Manifold served as CEO of CRH plc, during which time he strategically reshaped the company’s portfolio and delivered enhanced growth and performance, the announcement stated. He remains a special adviser to the board of CRH and is also an adviser at Clayton Dubilier & Rice. In addition, Manifold is also a non-executive director at LyondellBasell, a global chemicals producer, and a non-executive director at Mercury Engineering, a privately-owned engineering consultancy.

He comes to bp following a rigorous and comprehensive global search, led by Dame Amanda Blanc, bp’s senior independent director, on behalf of the board. She said Manifold’s “impressive track record of shareholder value creation at CRH demonstrates he is the ideal candidate to oversee bp’s next chapter.

“Albert has a relentless focus on performance which is well suited to bp’s needs now and into the future,” she continued. “He transformed and refocused CRH into a global leader by building on its rich heritage to deliver superior growth, cash generation and returns.”

Blanc thanked outgoing chair Helge Lund “for his leadership and dedicated service to bp throughout the past seven years,” stating that “his contribution through a period of immense change has been invaluable.”

In commenting on his appointment, Manifold said, “It is an honor to be appointed chair of one of the world’s great energy companies, and to have the opportunity to help the company reach its full potential. bp has a vital role to play in addressing the world’s growing energy needs.”

He added that he looked forward to working with the bp Board, CEO Murray Auchincloss and the leadership team “to accelerate delivery of bp’s strategy and drive compelling and sustainable shareholder value creation.”