BP 2011 Annual Report Download - page 12

10 BP Annual Report and Form 20-F 2011
Chairman’s letter
Andrew, a former finance director at Rolls-Royce, brings substantial experience in
the oil and gas industry through previous roles at Enterprise Oil and Cairn Energy.
Ann is Head of the Department of Engineering at the University of Cambridge,
where she is Professor of Mechanical Engineering. She brings exceptional
academic and engineering expertise to BP.
Brian Gilvary is now our chief financial officer. His broad experience of BP,
gained over 25 years in influential roles such as the chief executive of integrated
supply and trading and as deputy group CFO, makes him a valuable addition.
Our previous CFO Byron Grote takes up a new role as the director responsible
for corporate business activities. Byron has made a substantial contribution over
his lengthy BP career and I am pleased we have retained his services as a board
member.
Bill Castell has decided not to seek re-election at the forthcoming AGM. Bill
has made a substantial contribution to the board, not least as chair of the safety,
ethics and environment assurance committee. Bill has devoted all the time that
was asked of him and more in the service of the board and the company. I speak
for the whole board when I thank him sincerely for all he has done. Bill’s role
as senior independent director will be taken by Andrew Shilston, who will be
supported on internal matters by Antony Burgmans.
The board committees have always played an important oversight role,
freeing the main board to concentrate on strategic matters. All of our committees
have been heavily involved this year. Each committee has dealt with different
challenges, and all of the directors have been unstinting in the time they have
given.
The Gulf of Mexico committee, formed in 2010 and chaired by Ian Davis,
has been invaluable in allowing the board to prioritize its work during the
restoration of the Gulf of Mexico and the ensuing litigation. During the year,
Antony Burgmans became chair of the remuneration committee and Brendan
Nelson became chair of the audit committee. Paul Anderson took over the chair
of the safety, ethics and environmental assurance committee in December.
Left The East Azeri
platform in the Caspian
Sea in Azerbaijan. BP
is the largest foreign
investor in the country.
Right In 2011, the
chairman visited the
Alberta oil sands in
Canada including the
Sunrise Energy Project
– BP’s joint venture
with Husky Energy.
In detail
For more information
on the board and its
committees, see
Corporate governance
report.
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