BP Appoints Woodside Boss Meg O’Neill as CEO Following Shock Departure of Murray Auchincloss
In a significant leadership shake-up, British energy major BP p.l.c. has announced the appointment of Meg O’Neill as its next chief executive officer. O’Neill, who currently leads the Australian powerhouse Woodside Energy, is set to officially assume the role on April 1, 2026. The move comes as current CEO Murray Auchincloss prepares to step down from the board and his executive position on Thursday, December 18, 2025, after a relatively short tenure of less than two years.
The transition marks a pivotal moment for the London-listed company, which has recently faced intense pressure to balance its traditional oil and gas operations with a strategic pivot toward renewable energy. BP Chair Albert Manifold praised O’Neill’s “proven track record of driving transformation, growth, and disciplined capital allocation,” describing her as the ideal leader to guide BP into its next phase. During the interim period between Auchincloss’s departure and O’Neill’s arrival, Carol Howle, BP’s executive vice president for supply, trading, and shipping, will serve as interim CEO.
A Proven Track Record at Woodside
Meg O’Neill, a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), brings three decades of global energy experience to BP. Since becoming CEO of Woodside in 2021, she has overseen several transformative moves:
- BHP Merger: She led the landmark acquisition of BHP Petroleum International, a deal that turned Woodside into the largest energy company on the Australian Securities Exchange.
- LNG Expansion: Under her leadership, Woodside significantly expanded its liquefied natural gas (LNG) portfolio, including the recent acquisition of a major Louisiana LNG project in the United States.
- Operational Rigor: Before her time at Woodside, O’Neill spent 23 years at ExxonMobil in various leadership roles across North America, Africa, and Europe.
Transition and Strategy
The departure of Murray Auchincloss, who has been with BP for over 30 years, appears to be a coordinated effort to “accelerate the delivery” of the company’s long-term strategy. Auchincloss initially took the helm as interim CEO in September 2023 following the resignation of Bernard Looney and was made permanent in January 2024. He will remain in an advisory capacity through December 2026 to ensure a smooth transition.
In a statement following the announcement, O’Neill said she was “honored to serve as the company’s next CEO” and is eager to focus on accelerating performance, safety, and sustainability. For Woodside, the loss of O’Neill is a significant blow; the company has appointed Liz Westcott as acting CEO effective immediately while it begins a global search for a permanent successor. Following the news, shares in BP rose 0.7% in London, reflecting cautious optimism from investors regarding the arrival of a veteran operator known for financial discipline.
