BP pLc today announced that its Board has appointed Meg O’Neill as the company’s next Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 April 2026. Murray Auchincloss will step down as CEO and as a member of the Board on 18 December and will continue to support the company in an advisory capacity through December 2026 to ensure a smooth and orderly transition. Carol Howle, currently Executive Vice President for Supply, Trading and Shipping, will assume the role of Interim CEO until Meg O’Neill formally takes over.
Meg O’Neill currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of Woodside Energy, where she has led the company since 2021. During her tenure, Ms Woodside grew into the largest energy company listed on the Australian Securities Exchange and completed the transformational acquisition of BHP Petroleum International, creating a geographically diversified portfolio of high-quality oil and gas assets. Prior to joining Woodside in 2018, Ms Meg spent 23 years at ExxonMobil, holding a wide range of technical, operational, and senior leadership roles across multiple regions.
Albert Manifold, Chair of bp, said the Board is confident that Meg O’Neill’s experience in leading complex global businesses, driving operational improvement, and maintaining strong financial discipline makes her the right leader to guide bp through its next phase of development. He added that the leadership transition follows a comprehensive succession planning process and reflects the Board’s intent to accelerate bp’s strategy to become a simpler, more efficient, and more profitable organisation while continuing to deliver long-term value to shareholders.
Meg O’Neill said she is honoured to be appointed CEO of bp and highlighted the company’s important role in supplying energy to customers around the world. She noted that bp’s strong asset base provides a solid foundation to improve performance, enhance safety, advance innovation, and support sustainability objectives in a changing energy landscape.
The Board also thanked Murray Auchincloss for his long-standing service and leadership over more than three decades and expressed appreciation to Carol Howle for agreeing to serve as Interim CEO, ensuring stability and continuity during the transition period. bp is a global integrated energy company with operations spanning oil and gas, refining, trading, and a rapidly expanding portfolio of low-carbon and renewable energy solutions.
With a presence in more than 70 countries, bp is focused on delivering secure, affordable energy while advancing its transition strategy toward a lower-carbon future. The company is investing in renewables, bioenergy, hydrogen, electric vehicle charging, and energy storage, alongside its traditional energy businesses. Guided by a commitment to safety, sustainability, and innovation, bp aims to support economic growth, meet evolving energy demand, and contribute to global efforts to address climate change.
