BP’s new boss has outlined plans to restore the company structure the oil major abandoned six years ago, marking a fresh turn after its costly attempt to reorganise around a greener strategy.
Meg O’Neill told staff that the 117-year-old company would return to what she described as a “simpler, stronger” two-business arrangement. The structure would consist of an upstream division focused on oil and gas production and a downstream arm covering refining, fuel distribution and retail activities.
The proposal signals a reversal of the framework BP adopted as part of its attempt to pursue a green agenda. That earlier overhaul was intended to reshape the business for a lower-carbon future, but the company has since moved away from that approach.
By reinstating the older model, BP is aiming to refocus the organisation around its core fossil fuel operations. The upstream and downstream split was previously a central part of how the company managed its global energy business before the shift away from that arrangement.
O’Neill’s comments to staff suggest the company is now seeking a more streamlined structure after years of experimentation with a different strategic direction. The planned reset comes as BP reconsiders how best to organise itself following the failed green foray that prompted the earlier changes.
The announcement adds to a broader reassessment within the company as it moves to simplify operations and sharpen its focus on the business lines that have historically defined BP. The return to two main divisions is intended to make the group easier to run while keeping attention on oil and gas production, refining and fuel sales.
BP’s decision reflects a wider corporate retreat from some of the ambitions that shaped its green transition. The new structure would once again place upstream and downstream operations at the centre of the company’s model, reversing the organisational design introduced during the previous strategy shift.
For now, the message from BP’s leadership is clear: the company wants a leaner structure and a more traditional division of responsibilities as it resets after the expensive attempt to reposition itself around green energy.
