The chief executive of oil giant BP, Bernard Looney, resigned on Tuesday with immediate effect after information emerged about romantic relationships Looney had with co-workers.
According to The Telegraph, the news initially emerged on Tuesday night, when the British oil company issued a statement saying that Looney had informed the company that, in the past, it had not been “completely transparent” regarding its relationships with its partners. coworkers.
The controversy began more than a year ago, when, in May 2022, BP received anonymous information about the CEO’s personal relationships with his colleagues. The company has launched an investigation into the situation and, according to the statement, at that point Looney will have disclosed “a small number of prior relationships.”
In this first investigation, BP concluded that the company leader had not violated any internal rules. However, recently the company again received information in the same sense, which motivated a new investigation.
“Mr. Looney reported today [terça-feira] The company now accepts that it was not fully transparent in the information previously provided. “He did not provide details of all of his relationships and accepts that he was obliged to make fuller disclosure,” the statement said.
BP also adds that it has “strong values” and that the company’s management expects all employees, especially leaders, to act “in accordance with these values” and be “role models” for others.
Looney had already been at the center of controversy this year, when it was reported that his salary in 2022 had more than doubled, to 11.3 million euros, which caused great social outrage due to the increase in the cost of the life in the UK and the rest of the world. Europe.
BP CEO’s annual salary more than doubles to €11.3m in 2022
But Looney’s personal life had been the subject of controversy before, when his ex-wife, Jacqueline Hurst, published a book in which she accused Looney of marrying her just to advance his career: just being seen as a married man. would have a negative effect. possibilities of moving up in the company.
Now, also according to The Telegraph, BP management is being pressured to reveal everything it knew about Looney’s behavior.
Several sources who spoke anonymously to the English newspaper said that Looney’s multiple cases were “public knowledge” within the industry. “These stories have been circulating for years in WhatsApp chats and groups,” a source told The Telegraph.
“BP launched its own internal investigation in 2022, but these things were known long before he was named in 2020. That’s why it’s about much more than just one man: it’s about the entire culture of the company,” says the same anonymous. source added.
Due to the most recent revelations, the company commissioned an external law firm to conduct a thorough investigation, the final report of which will be provided to BP.
Source: Observadora
