Future Of British Business

BP’s Urgent Search for a New CEO: Who’s on the List?

  • CFO Auchincloss was given the title of interim-CEO on Tuesday
  • BP boss has typically been promoted from within company ranks

The company has typically molded CEOs throughout their careers within the company.

Photographer: Leon Neal/Getty Images
Lock
This article is for subscribers only.

BP Plc’s board woke up on Wednesday facing an urgent search for a new boss, its fifth in 16 years. Outgoing Chief Executive Officer Bernard Looney shocked the industry a day earlier with his resignation after failing to fully disclose past relationships with colleagues.

The storied oil and gas producer has typically molded CEOs over decades-long careers within the company. But with Looney becoming the third of the last four chiefs to leave BP abruptly, an external hire can’t be ruled out. Here’s a look at some potential candidates: