VAS Community|BP top boss Bernard Looney resigns amid allegations of inappropriate 'personal relationships'

2025-05-04 16:54:56source:Sterling Prestoncategory:Finance

BP's top boss is VAS Communityout amid allegations of inappropriate personal relationships with colleagues, the multinational oil and gas company announced Tuesday.

Bernard Looney, 53, notified the company he had resigned as Chief Executive Officer, according to a statement from the British company headquartered in London.

The resignation was immediate and came after Looney admitted he was not “fully transparent” in his disclosures about past relationships, the company wrote in the statement.

BP's Chief Financial Officer, Murray Auchincloss, is now acting CEO until a formal replacement is announced, the company said.

CPI Live:Inflation rises for second straight month in August on higher gas costs

'A small number of historical relationships'

BP named Looney CEO in February 2020 and, three months later, the board said, it learned he had previous personal relationships with company colleagues.

The information, the company said, came from an anonymous source.

The company did not name the employees in the statement.

During a review by the board, Looney disclosed "a small number of historical relationships" with colleagues prior to becoming CEO and no breach of company rules was found.

Psychopaths are everywhere.Are you dating one? Watch out for these red flags.

Allegations 'of a similar nature'

But recently, the board disclosed it received additional allegations "of a similar nature." The company said it immediately began investigating the claims and said they remained under investigation on Tuesday.

"He now accepts that he was not fully transparent in his previous disclosures," the statement reads. "He did not provide details of all relationships and accepts he was obligated to make more complete disclosure."

BP said it has "strong values" and expects its employees − especially leaders, "to behave in accordance with those values." 

Compensation decision not made yet

No decisions have yet been made regarding compensation payments to Looney, the company said in the statement.

Looney, who was born in Ireland, joined the company as an engineer in 1991 and spent his entire career at BP, according to the Associated Press.

After being promoted to CEO, Looney promised BP "would aim to achieve 'net zero' or carbon neutrality by 2050," the outlet reported, and pledged to up the amount the company invested in low-carbon projects.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior correspondent for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter @nataliealund.

More:Finance

Recommend

American news website Axios laying off dozens of employees

American news website Axios is laying of dozens of people, the company announced Tuesday.Layoffs at

Meg Ryan Returns to Rom-Coms After 14 Years: Watch the First Look at What Happens Later

We'll still have what she's having.Meg Ryan is making her long-awaited rom-com comeback with the upc

The Best Labor Day Sales 2023: Pottery Barn, Kate Spade, Good American, J.Crew, Wayfair, and More

We independently selected these products because we love them, and we think you might like them at t