Ousted BP Chairman Was Preparing to Remove Senior Director Before Dismissal

Albert Manifold, the former chairman of BP who was ousted in May 2026 after just eight months, was planning to introduce strict six-year term limits for board directors and remove two non-executive directors, including senior independent director Dame Amanda Blanc. Manifold had prepared proposals to shrink the board from 10 to 8 members, targeting Blanc and Johannes Teyssen for departure. The plans were based partly on work by Board Evaluation, a governance consultancy. Manifold was dismissed after 'serious concerns' about governance standards and conduct, which he has denied. BP has closed ranks around Blanc, who was involved in Manifold's removal and is now tasked with finding his replacement. Shareholders have questioned the board's decision to force out Manifold.