BP Annual Report and Form 20-F 2011 - Company Reporting

Chairman’s letterAndrew, a former finance director at Rolls-Royce, brings substantial experience inthe 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 exceptionalacademic 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 integratedsupply 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 responsiblefor corporate business activities. Byron has made a substantial contribution overhis lengthy BP career and I am pleased we have retained his services as a boardmember.Left The East Azeriplatform in the CaspianSea in Azerbaijan. BPis the largest foreigninvestor in the country.Right In 2011, thechairman visited theAlberta oil sands inCanada including theSunrise Energy Project– BP’s joint venturewith Husky Energy.In detailFor more informationon the board and itscommittees, seeCorporate governancereport.Page 126Bill Castell has decided not to seek re-election at the forthcoming AGM. Billhas 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 thatwas asked of him and more in the service of the board and the company. I speakfor the whole board when I thank him sincerely for all he has done. Bill’s roleas senior independent director will be taken by Andrew Shilston, who will besupported 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 committeeshave been heavily involved this year. Each committee has dealt with differentchallenges, and all of the directors have been unstinting in the time they havegiven.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 therestoration of the Gulf of Mexico and the ensuing litigation. During the year,Antony Burgmans became chair of the remuneration committee and BrendanNelson became chair of the audit committee. Paul Anderson took over the chairof the safety, ethics and environmental assurance committee in December.10 BP Annual Report and Form 20-F 2011