(qlmbusinessnews.com . Thu 18th Dec, 2025) London, UK —
BP Announces Woodside Energy's Meg O’Neill as New CEO Amid Strategic Industry Shifts
In a groundbreaking move for the global oil industry, BP has named Meg O’Neill as its new chief executive, marking her the inaugural female leader of a major international oil corporation. The London-headquartered energy behemoth announced the departure of its current chief, Murray Auchincloss, who will be stepping down after a tenure of less than two years, succeeding Bernard Looney who was dismissed for failing to report relationships with colleagues, deemed “serious misconduct”.
Carol Howle, presently BP’s executive vice president, will occupy the role of interim chief executive until O'Neill assumes her responsibilities on 1 April. O'Neill, currently at the helm of Woodside Energy in Australia since 2021, expressed her eagerness to contribute to BP's mission of fulfilling global energy demands.
Auchincloss, who initially replaced Looney in September 2024, disclosed that he had communicated to BP's chairman his openness to resign should a suitable successor emerge. “BP is now poised for substantial growth, and I look forward to observing its continual advancement,” he remarked, following the revelation of O'Neill's appointment. He is set to stay on in a consultancy capacity until December 2026.
O'Neill aims to restore BP's market dominance and is committed to enhancing safety protocols, promoting innovative practices, and advancing sustainability within the organisation. BP lauded O'Neill's leadership at Woodside Energy, especially highlighting the strategic acquisition of BHP Petroleum International in 2022, an endeavour that catapulted the firm to the summit of the Australian Securities Exchange as its largest listed energy entity.
O'Neill's professional journey before Woodside involved a 23-year tenure at ExxonMobil, where she held various technical, operational, and leadership roles within the Texas-based energy company.
Looney's departure was marked by a significant financial forfeiture, losing up to £32.4 million in salary and benefits, following his admission of not being “fully transparent” concerning historical personal relationships, which led BP's board to conclude they had been “knowingly misled”.
This leadership transition occurs amidst BP's strategic pivot from renewable energy ventures towards bolstering oil and gas production, a shift influenced by investor pressures over lagging profits and share performance compared to its rivals. This realignment echoes a broader industry trend, with competitors such as Shell and Equinor scaling back their green energy commitments, and finds alignment with political encouragements towards fossil fuel exploitation.
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