BP has appointed Carol Howle as deputy chief executive officer effective immediately, the London-based energy major announced on April 2, 2026. Howle, who led BP's supply, trading and shipping division, takes the newly created position as Meg O'Neill assumes the role of chief executive officer following the departure of Murray Auchincloss in December 2025. In her new capacity, Howle will oversee the company's ongoing portfolio review and strategy development while continuing to lead supply, trading and shipping operations. The appointment marks a significant structural move by O'Neill to consolidate control over BP's transformation agenda.
The appointment comes as O'Neill, who joined BP from Woodside Energy, begins implementing a sweeping restructuring of the oil major. Howle's elevation from interim CEO, a role she held since December 2025, reflects her instrumental role during BP's leadership transition period. O'Neill stated that Howle's oversight of the portfolio review and long-term strategy development beyond BP's 2027 targets would support the company as it moves forward. The appointment, while not a board position, gives Howle substantial influence over BP's capital allocation decisions during a period of significant strategic repositioning. No external search firm involvement has been disclosed for this internal promotion.
Howle brings more than 25 years of experience within BP spanning integrated supply and trading, shipping and operations. She joined BP in 2000 and has held progressively senior roles including chief operating officer for natural gas liquids, chief operating officer for integrated supply and trading, and head of BP's shipping operations. Howle also previously served as head of the group chief executive's office and was appointed executive vice president of supply, trading and shipping in February 2020. She holds a qualification from the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and serves as a non-executive board member of the Royal Navy, where she chairs the Navy Audit and Risk Assurance Committee. At 54 years old, Howle is known for deep expertise in BP's commercial operations and trading infrastructure.
BP operates as one of the world's largest integrated oil and gas companies, with a global portfolio spanning upstream production, downstream refining and retail, and trading operations. The company has undergone repeated strategic reorientations over recent years, most notably a contentious pivot away from renewable energy emphasis back toward traditional oil and gas production. Under O'Neill's leadership, BP is reorganizing into two core divisions, upstream and downstream, dismantling its gas and low-carbon energy unit. The company operates approximately 1,708 U.S. convenience stores under brands including ampm and Thorntons and maintains significant offshore and onshore assets globally.
The appointment of Howle as deputy CEO signals O'Neill's reliance on internal continuity during an aggressive transformation phase. By elevating a trusted lieutenant with deep operational knowledge across BP's most profitable trading and supply functions, O'Neill gains an executive capable of implementing portfolio changes while maintaining operational stability. The decision to create and fill this deputy role, which notably holds no board seat, suggests O'Neill is centralizing strategic decision-making around herself while delegating specific portfolio execution to seasoned insiders. This structure appears designed to accelerate capital discipline and divestment decisions that BP's board and major shareholders have demanded, positioning Howle as the chief architect of which assets are retained, divested or restructured in the coming years.
