New Delhi: bp on Monday announced the appointment of Albert Manifold as the next chair of the company, with effect from October 1. He will join the company’s board as a non-executive director and chair-elect on September 1, succeeding Helge Lund, who will step down after a seven-year tenure.
Manifold served as Chief Executive Officer of CRH plc from January 2014 to December 2024. He is currently a non-executive director at LyondellBasell, a chemicals company listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and at Mercury Engineering, a privately owned engineering consultancy.
Under his leadership at CRH, the company restructured its portfolio and focused on capital efficiency and cash generation. Manifold holds a Master of Business Administration and a Master in Business Studies from Dublin City University. He is a Certified Public Accountant and a Chartered Accountant.
“It is an honour 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,” Manifold said.
“bp has a vital role to play in addressing the world’s growing energy needs. I look forward to working with the bp board, Murray and the leadership team to accelerate delivery of bp’s strategy and drive compelling and sustainable shareholder value creation,” he added.
The succession process was led by Dame Amanda Blanc, bp’s senior independent director. “I am delighted that following a rigorous and comprehensive global search we have been able to appoint Albert as our new chair. His impressive track record of shareholder value creation at CRH demonstrates he is the ideal candidate to oversee bp’s next chapter,” she said.
“Albert has a relentless focus on performance which is well suited to bp’s needs now and into the future,” Blanc added.
bp said Manifold remains a special adviser to the board of CRH and an adviser at private equity firm Clayton Dubilier & Rice.
The company clarified that there are no additional matters requiring disclosure under 6.4.8R of the UK Listing Rules.
Ben Mathews, Company Secretary, is responsible for arranging the release of the announcement, which contains inside information, bp said.