BP plc appointed Meg O’Neill as its next chief executive office, effective 1 April 2026. Murray Auchincloss stepped down from his position as CEO and director of the Board, as of Thursday, 18 December. Carol Howle, current executive vice president, supply, trading & shipping of bp, will serve as interim CEO until O’Neill joins as CEO. Auchinloss will serve in an advisory role until December 2026 to ensure a smooth transition.
BASF has announced a new management board for the spin-off of its new Agricultural Solutions division as a separate company ahead of its listing and initial public offering (IPO) on the Frankfurt stock exchange. BASF says this will “establish the standalone business as an independent, pure-play agricultural company with global reach, robust growth prospects and strong cash flow generation.” BASF will remain the majority shareholder and will continue to benefit from the company’s growth and success, while implementing market customary corporate governance.
A summary of recent company appointments.
Worley has announced changes to its Group Executive team to “simplify its structure, streamline governance and accelerate the company’s transition to an AIenabled organization”. Effective from November 1, 2025, Laura Leonard will take up the role of Chief AI and Enterprise Services Officer bringing together a number of corporate functions including Digital, Transformation, Risk, Sustainability, and Corporate Affairs, with three existing Group Executive members moving to report to Laura. This consolidates resources that support operations and reduces the size of Worley’s Group Executive team from twelve to nine.
BASF SE says that it has made changes to its board of executive directors in line with its “Winning Ways” strategy. The Supervisory Board has appointed Dr. Mary Kurian and Dr. Livio Tedeschi as members of the Board of Executive Directors effective from May 1, 2026. At the same time, Michael Heinz will retire as planned.
bp Plc has appointed Albert Manifold as its new chairman and non-executive director, effective from 1st September 2025. He will replace outgoing chair Helge Lund, who leaves on October 1st this year. “His impressive track record of shareholder value creation at [building firm] CRH demonstrates that he is the ideal candidate to oversee bp’s next chapter,” said Amanda Blanc, the senior independent director who led the search for BP’s new chairman.
The Methanol Institute (MI) has appointed Alexander Döll as its new Chief Executive Officer. He succeeds Greg Dolan , who is retiring after nearly 30 years of service and leadership. Döll brings more than 25 years of international experience across the energy, chemicals, and sustainability sectors. He has held senior positions at leading companies such as Dow and OCI Global, with a strong focus on public affairs, policy, and commercial strategy. His career spans Europe, the United States, the Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia; regions that are key to the future of the methanol industry. Before this appointment, he served as MI’s Chief Operating Officer, helping to guide the organisation during a period of significant growth and momentum.
A summary of recent company appointments.
Nishant Kanodia , chairman of Matix Fertilisers and Chemicals Ltd, has been appointed to the board of directors of the International Fertilizer Association (IFA). The appointment was formalised at the IFA Annual Conference 2025 in Monaco, with the theme of ‘Investing in the Future of Food’. With approximately 500 members across more than 80 countries, IFA champions policy, innovation, and sustainable fertilizer practices that contribute to global food security.
Nishant Kanodia, chairman of Matix Fertilisers and Chemicals Ltd, has been appointed to the board of directors of the International Fertilizer Association (IFA). The appointment was formalised at the IFA Annual Conference 2025 in Monaco, with the theme of ‘Investing in the Future of Food’. With approximately 500 members across more than 80 countries, IFA champions policy, innovation, and sustainable fertilizer practices that contribute to global food security.