Global energy giant British Petroleum has appointed Meg O’Neill as its next chief executive officer, effective 1 April 2026, following the decision of current CEO Murray Auchincloss to step down, effective Thursday, 18 December.
Carol Howle, BP’s executive vice president, supply, trading & shipping, will serve as interim CEO until O’Neill takes the helm. Auchincloss will continue in an advisory role until December 2026 to ensure a smooth transition.
O’Neill, currently CEO of Woodside Energy, has led the Australian company since 2021, growing it into the largest energy firm listed on the Australian Securities Exchange. She oversaw Woodside’s transformative acquisition of BHP Petroleum International, building a geographically diverse portfolio of high-quality oil and gas assets. Prior to Woodside, O’Neill spent 23 years at ExxonMobil in technical, operational, and leadership roles worldwide.
Albert Manifold, BP Chair, said: “We are delighted to welcome Meg O’Neill to the bp team. Her proven track record of driving transformation, growth, and disciplined capital allocation makes her the right leader for bp. Her relentless focus on business improvement and financial discipline gives us high confidence in her ability to shape this great company for its next phase of growth and pursue significant strategic and financial opportunities.”
Manifold added: “Following a comprehensive succession planning process, the Board believes this transition creates an opportunity to accelerate our strategic vision to become a simpler, leaner, and more profitable company. Progress has been made in recent years, but increased rigor and diligence are required to make the necessary transformative changes to maximise value for our shareholders.”
O’Neill said: “bp plays a critical role in delivering energy to customers around the world. I am honoured to serve as the company’s next CEO. With an extraordinary portfolio of assets, bp has significant potential to reestablish market leadership and grow shareholder value. I look forward to working with the bp leadership team and colleagues worldwide to accelerate performance, advance safety, drive innovation and sustainability and do our part to meet the world’s energy needs.”
Auchincloss said: “After more than three decades with bp, now is the right time to hand the reins to a new leader. When Albert became Chair, I expressed my openness to step down were an appropriate leader identified who could accelerate delivery of bp’s strategy. I am confident that bp is now well positioned for significant growth and I look forward to watching the company’s future progress and success under Meg’s leadership.”
Manifold concluded: “On behalf of the Board, I want to thank Murray for his many contributions to bp and for his commitment to our people and our business. We wish him every success in his next chapter. The Board is grateful for Carol’s willingness to serve as interim CEO. With 25 years at bp, she has a deep knowledge of the company and will ensure strategic continuity until Meg joins.”
