BP has fired its chairman of the board of directors over bullying and employee complaints
British oil company BP has dismissed its chairman, Albert Menifold, over allegations of bullying and violations of corporate ethics. The decision was made by the board of directors following complaints from employees and an internal investigation.
BP, one of the world’s largest energy giants, found itself at the center of a high-profile corporate scandal, following which the company’s leadership decided to immediately remove Chairman of the Board Albert Menifold, accusing him of toxic behavior and pressuring employees. According to the Financial Times, the board’s decision was unanimous and was made after reviewing a series of internal complaints from employees who described Menifold’s management style as aggressive and unacceptable for a modern corporation.
As noted, the top manager repeatedly raised his voice at subordinates, created an atmosphere of constant pressure, and attempted to concentrate key management decisions exclusively in his own hands, which led to internal conflicts and tension among the leadership. “The company thought they were hiring a tough change agent, not a bully,” a source told the Financial Times, describing the expectations for his work and his actual behavior.
Amid the scandal, BP shares on the London Stock Exchange fell by about 4%, which only amplified the impact of the personnel decision and underscored the scale of reputational risks for the company.
Separately, media outlets note that Menifold had demonstrated a similar management style before, particularly during his tenure at the Irish construction conglomerate CRH, where his methods also sparked controversy and antitrust debates, including in Ukraine. During his tenure at CRH, the Ukrainian cement market found itself at the center of prolonged disputes over the company’s potential dominance, with the Kovalska industrial group serving as one of the key opponents, warning of the risks of rising prices and market concentration.
Experts do not rule out that a series of corporate conflicts and reputational issues in various countries may have influenced Menifold’s future career, although there is no official confirmation of this.
Menifold himself rejects the bullying allegations and claims that his resignation is solely due to internal disagreements over cost-cutting strategies and company management. Ian Tyler is currently serving as interim chairman of BP’s board of directors while the company seeks a long-term replacement. The Financial Times reports on this.
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