BP appoints Kate Thomson as its first female finance chief

BP has appointed its first female finance chief following the departure of disgraced ex-boss Bernard Looney.

Kate Thomson has been promoted to interim chief financial officer as part of an executive reshuffle after Looney’s dramatic exit last week.

BP veteran Thomson will replace Murray Auchincloss in the role after he temporarily stepped into the chief executive role while the hunt for a permanent successor for Looney is ongoing.

The Irish businessman’s shock resignation, after he admitted he had misled an investigation into his personal relationships with colleagues, sparked an urgent search for a new boss.

The oil and gas giant is reportedly looking at both internal and external candidates, although no clear frontrunner has emerged.

Landmark appointment: Kate Thomson (pictured) has been promoted to interim chief financial officer as part of an executive reshuffle after Bernard Looney’s exit last week

However, there are strong contenders on BP’s current leadership team, which is made up of seven women and four men.

The circumstances of Looney’s departure and the strong line-up of women on the executive team mean there is an ‘opportunity’ for BP to appoint its first female chief executive, analysts said. 

There is an increasing number of women filling senior roles within the oil industry, including Shell’s finance chief Sinead Gorman, who was appointed last year, and Harbour Energy chief executive Linda Cook.

Thomson’s current role is senior vice president of finance for production and operations, and she has held other roles, including group treasurer and head of group tax in her 19 years at the company.

Announcing her promotion yesterday, Auchincloss said: ‘Kate brings deep technical knowledge, together with a detailed understanding of BP and has a first-class track record of leadership across our finance function.’

However, BP has a long tradition of promoting production or refining executives rather than financial specialists into the top job. 

Other potential runners include Anja-Isabel Dotzenrath, the executive vice president of gas and low carbon energy.

Before joining BP she was chief executive of RWE Renewables and managed E.On’s climate and renewables business as chief executive and chief operating officer.

Carol Howle is vice president of trading and shipping, having previously been the chief operating officer for IST Oil, with more than 20 years in the energy industry. 

Vice president of customers and products Emma Delaney is another potential candidate having spent 25 years working at BP, most recently as regional president for West Africa.

Leigh-Ann Russell, head of innovation and engineering, and Giulia Chierchia, head of strategy, sustainability, and ventures, are two senior BP executives who could be contenders. 

Other women in senior roles at BP include Kerry Dryburgh, vice president of people and culture, and Louise Kingham, who was appointed head of BP’s UK business in 2021.

‘It’s certainly an opportunity, and of course there is always the possibility of a female external hire,’ said Richard Hunter, head of markets at online platform Interactive Investor.

This post first appeared on Dailymail.co.uk