BP has appointed former Shell executive Carol Howle as its new Deputy Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Howle, who has spent 25 years at BP and previously served as interim CEO, will report directly to CEO Meg O’Neill and will oversee the company’s portfolio review and strategy development while continuing her role as Executive Vice President for Supply, Trading and Shipping.
In her expanded role, Howle will take charge of the strategy and sustainability team, which will now report to her. The move is designed to align BP’s leadership around its strategic reset, a pivot toward core oil and gas operations that was announced in February 2025. The reset includes a planned $10 billion annual investment in upstream and downstream assets, a $20 billion divestment program by 2027, and a target net‑debt reduction to $14–18 billion.
"Progress has been made in recent months but there is always more to do. Meg and I share a commitment to safe and reliable operations, disciplined capital allocation and high‑quality delivery—and I look forward to supporting her as she gets started," Howle said. "As I step into my new role I am committed to providing clear direction and consistency so our company can move forward with confidence. To support this, Carol will oversee the ongoing portfolio review and long‑term strategy development beyond our 2027 targets. I'm looking forward to working closely with her to deliver a simpler, stronger, more valuable bp to maximize value for our shareholders," O’Neill added.
The appointment underscores BP’s intent to strengthen its upstream and downstream businesses while executing the divestment and debt‑reduction plans that have been a focus of the company’s leadership since the February 2025 reset. By placing Howle—who has deep operational experience and a track record of disciplined capital allocation—at the helm of strategy and sustainability, BP signals a commitment to disciplined execution and a clearer focus on its core hydrocarbon operations.
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