UK-headquartered energy major BP is considering three internal candidates including its executive vice president of trading and shipping Carol Howle for the company’s currently vacant chief executive role.
According to Reuters, which cited sources, Howle is one of those being considered alongside interim CEO Murray Auchincloss and executive vice president, customer and products Emma Delaney.
All three regularly appeared in results presentations with former CEO Bernard Looney as part of his executive team.
Howle is a long-serving employee, having worked with BP for over 23 years with nearly the last four of those in her current EVP role. She has served internationally across the crude oil and chemical products businesses and headed BP Shipping.
Historic potential
Reuters said Howle or Delaney would become the first woman to lead one of the five top Western oil and gas companies.
External candidates are also being considered.
Looney resigned suddenly on 12 September after failing to disclose relationships with employees, leaving a vacuum at the head of the energy major.
BP chairman Helge Lund is overseeing the process conducted under the company’s people and governance committee to appoint a new CEO.
A decision is expected during the first quarter of 2024.
BP has a stated ambition to get to net zero by 2050 or sooner.
The major plans to expand its LNG supply by 30% in the coming three years and boost this to 30 million tonnes per annum by 2030. It is also building out its biogas position and developing newer revenue streams for methanol, carbon capture and storage and aims to produce 0.5 to 0.7 mtpa of hydrogen by 2030.
