BP puts American in charge of spill clean-up
BP chief executive Tony Hayward today handed over the Gulf of Mexico oil spill to an American executive brought up in one of the states affected by the disaster.
Bob Dudley is now the front man in the efforts to stop the leak and deal with the economic damage it has caused.
Mr Dudley, who had led BP's operations in the Americas and Asia, was appointed president and chief executive of the newly created Gulf Coast Restoration Organisation, effective immediately, and will report to Mr Hayward.
"In the near term, my focus will be on listening to stakeholders, so we can address concerns and remove obstacles that get in the way of our effectiveness. And we'll build an organisation that over the longer term fulfils BP's commitments to the restore the livelihoods and the environment of the Gulf Coast," he said.
The reorganisation followed a series of humiliations in recent days for BP. Last week it bowed to President Barack Obama's demand that it set up a $20bn (€16.3bn) fund to cover damages and to suspend dividend payments, followed a day later by a public thrashing for Mr Hayward before a Congressional committee.
He repeatedly apologised and expressed sorrow for the oil leak caused by a fire and explosion on the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig on April 20. Eleven workers died.
Members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee were infuriated when Hayward denied direct responsibility for operational decisions which may have led to the disaster.
Mr Hayward had a further public relations gaffe over the weekend when he was photographed at a yacht race, and yesterday he dropped out of a previously announced commitment to speak at an oil industry conference in London.
BP said the newly formed organisation will manage all aspects of the response to the Deepwater Horizon incident and the oil and gas spill in the Gulf of Mexico. That includes clean-up operations, co-ordinating with the US government and local officials, and managing the compensation account.
"Having grown up in Mississippi, Bob has a deep appreciation and affinity for the Gulf Coast, and believes deeply in BP's commitment to restore the region," Mr Hayward said.
"Our commitment to the Gulf States is for the long-term. And that requires a more permanent sustainable organisation to see it through," Hayward added.
