18 December 2025
If you are covering Meg O’Neill’s appointment as CEO of BP, please find comments below from Maurizio Carulli, global energy analyst at Quilter Cheviot:
“BP’s decision to replace Murray Auchincloss as CEO is striking, not least for its timing. The appointment of Meg O’Neill, currently CEO of Woodside Energy and a former ExxonMobil veteran, signals a clear pivot back to upstream oil and gas. Her track record, including Woodside’s acquisition of BHP’s oil division, suggests a sharper focus on LNG and international growth.
“The move underlines new Chair Albert Manifold’s hands-on approach and likely accelerates BP’s strategy reset. While takeover chatter will inevitably resurface, with Shell’s bid for BG after a leadership change remaining fresh in memory, the odds of a major deal feel lower than earlier this year.
“In the short term, expect some uncertainty, but with Carol Howle stepping in as interim CEO, BP has a safe pair of hands to steer the ship until April.”
