Woodside boss and climate activist target resigns
The chairman of Australia’s largest oil and gas company has abruptly resigned after years of being targeted by climate activists.
But Meg O’Neill is not leaving the industry completely as she moves from Woodside Energy to chief executive officer at multinational energy giant BP.
Perth-based Wooside has appointed Liz Westcott, chief operating officer and vice president of Australian operations, as acting chief executive.
Woodside chairman Richard Goyder congratulated Ms O’Neill, whose resignation is effective immediately, on her new role and thanked her for her significant contribution.
He said the board’s appointment of Ms O’Neill as chief executive in 2021 underpinned the company’s transformational growth in recent years.
After 23 years at ExxonMobil, he first joined Woodside in 2018 as chief operating officer.
Woodside shares fell 1.3 percent to $15.45 at 10:30 a.m.
BP chairman Albert Manifold said Ms O’Neill’s proven track record of driving transformation, growth and disciplined spending made her the right leader for the company.
BP, formerly known as British Petroleum, is the world’s fifth-largest oil and gas producer, with a market value of 66.5 billion pounds ($134.7 billion).
He replaces Murray Auchincloss, who has been in office since January 2024. Ms O’Neill will begin her duties on April 1.
Ms O’Neill, an American who grew up in Boulder, Colorado, has been one of Australia’s most visible senior executives.
In February, three climate activists were fined for trying to spray political messages on his Perth home in 2023.
Australia’s Associated Press is the beating heart of Australian news. AAP is Australia’s only independent national news channel and has been providing accurate, reliable and fast-paced news content to the media industry, government and corporate sector for 85 years. We inform Australia.
