BP said company secretary Ben Mathews will exit at the end of the year. He is acting as a special adviser until a successor is appointed. The company added a thank you in its statement, saying, "We thank Ben for his leadership, partnership and contribution to BP." BP added that from now on the company secretary will answer to the general counsel instead of the board chair.
Ian Tyler was appointed BP's chairman on Wednesday after serving in the role on an interim basis following Albert Manifold's departure. Tyler is regarded as collaborative, a contrast with the tensions that played into Manifold leaving the post.
BP said Mathews had been on an extended personal leave that overlapped with Manifold's removal. People familiar with the situation said Mathews had a part in events that culminated in Manifold's exit, characterizing it as a confrontation between the pair, though they did not say what the dispute involved. The company secretary's responsibilities encompass guiding the board on procedures and corporate governance as it deliberates and makes decisions.
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According to a spokesperson at the time, Manifold did not have a clash with Mathews, the two spoke almost daily, maintained a strong professional relationship, and Mathews "publicly expressed his support of Mr. Manifold in his role on a number of occasions." On Wednesday, a representative said Manifold would not be commenting. At BP's annual general meeting held the month before Manifold was removed, investors rejected two management-backed resolutions and delivered a significant protest vote against the then-chairman.