Ousted BP Chairman Was Preparing to Remove Senior Directors Before Dismissal

Albert Manifold, the former chairman of BP, 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, before he was ousted in May 2026. Manifold had reduced the board from 13 to 10 members earlier in the year and intended to cut it further to eight. He prepared the proposals with external help from Board Evaluation, a consultancy run by Ffion Hague. The plans were never presented to the board. BP cited 'serious concerns' over governance standards and conduct, and Manifold has denied allegations of bullying. Dame Amanda, who oversaw Manifold's recruitment, was a key figure in his dismissal. Shareholders have questioned the board's judgment and called for new blood.