Meg O'Neill resigns as Woodside chief govt to hitch BP

The chief govt of vitality large Woodside has resigned from the corporate, efficient instantly, in a transfer to BP.

In an announcement, Woodside mentioned Meg O’Neill had stepped down from the place she had held since 2021 and was taking over the chief govt position at BP.

Woodside has appointed Liz Westcott as its performing chief govt.

Ms Westcott joined the corporate in 2023 and led its Australian operations as govt vice-president and chief working officer.

Woodside has thanked Ms O’Neill for leaving the corporate in “a powerful place”, with the corporate’s chair Richard Goyder saying she had made a big contribution.

Ms O’Neill is anticipated to take up her new position at BP early subsequent 12 months. (ABC Information: Keane Bourke)

“The Board’s appointment of Meg as CEO in 2021 set the muse for Woodside’s transformational progress over current years,” he mentioned.

“This robust enterprise efficiency has been translated into roughly $11 billion in dividends paid to shareholders since 2022, and a progress trajectory which is anticipated to ship vital worth.”

Seek for alternative

Mr Goyder mentioned the board had quite a lot of high-quality candidates to select from in its seek for a everlasting alternative for Ms O’Neill.

“The Board’s ongoing concentrate on CEO succession planning means Woodside is lucky to have quite a lot of extremely certified inner candidates as we additionally assess exterior expertise choices to make sure the absolute best CEO appointment,” he mentioned.

“We’re effectively positioned to conclude this course of effectively with the intention of saying a everlasting appointment within the first quarter of 2026.”

Ms O’Neill is anticipated to maneuver to BP in early 2026.

BP ‘delighted’ so as to add O’Neill

BP chair Albert Manifold mentioned the corporate would profit from Ms O’Neill’s expertise.

BP says Ms O’Neill is the “proper chief” for the corporate. (ABC Rural)

“We’re delighted to welcome Meg O’Neill to the BP workforce,” he mentioned.

“Her confirmed observe file of driving transformation, progress, and disciplined capital allocation makes her the appropriate chief for BP.

“Her relentless concentrate on enterprise enchancment and monetary self-discipline provides us excessive confidence in her potential to form this nice firm for its subsequent section of progress and pursue vital strategic and monetary alternatives.”