A day after he was grilled by Congress, BP chief executive Tony Hayward is being demoted. According to Britain's Sky News, BP Managing Director Bob Dudley will take over day-to-day oversight of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill while BP's chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg (he of the "small people" comment) will assume major PR duties. (Yes, you read that right — the BP executive who famously expressed his compassion for "the small people" will be tasked with enhancing the company's public image.)
The main reason for the shift is plain enough for anyone who's been following the spill: BP executives acknowledge that as the company's face during the crisis, Hayward has blown it. Svanberg, while defending the BP CEO, acknowledged that Hayward's comments have not been helpful to the company's efforts to control fallout from the disaster.
"It is clear Tony has made remarks that have upset people," Svanberg tells Sky News. "This has now turned into a reputation matter, financial and political, and that is why you will now see more of me."
7 comments:
Hayward should do more than lose his job. I'm also leaving the Republican party and going Independent. Those sons of b*tches in Congress don't represent me. Anyone who thinks BP shouldn't pay needs to be drawn and quartered:
"When BP CEO Tony Hayward testified before Congress this morning, many expected to hear him apologize for the disaster his company has caused. Instead, GOP Congressman Joe Barton was the one saying he was sorry -- to BP.
In his opening statement, Barton, the top Republican on the committee overseeing the oil spill and its aftermath, delivered a personal apology to the oil giant. He said the $20 billion fund that President Obama directed BP to establish to provide relief to the victims of the oil disaster was a "tragedy in the first proportion."
Other Republicans are echoing his call. Sen. John Cornyn said he "shares" Barton's concern. Rep. Michele Bachmann said that BP shouldn't agree to be "fleeced." Rush Limbaugh called it a "bailout." The Republican Study Committee, with its 114 members in the House, called it a "shakedown."
Let's be clear. This fund is a major victory for the people of the Gulf. It's a key step toward making them whole again. BP has a responsibility to those whose lives and livelihoods have been devastated by the disaster. And BP oil executives don't deserve an apology -- the people of the Gulf do."
Imagine if this was the Chesapeake region. Horrors.
The Right is always preaching personal responsibility. BP is responsible. Their own documents prove they had a criminally negligent safety policy.
"Shakedown" is a ludicrous description. It implies BP was threatened. BP promised to pay long before the White House meeting. Obama told the public the amount he was asking for and BP agreed. This fund will compensate the "small people." They will not be tied up in court for 20 years like the Exxon Valdez.
Interesting, no Republican called the 9/11 victims' fund a "shakedown."
While we are using criminal metaphors, what do you call Barton's $150,000 in oil industry contributions? Bribery?
Maybe they got the 20 billion when it will be a 100 billion to clean up and repay to buy the company time to move money and go under.
The focus should be on the clean up ! You don't try to figure out what caused the house fire until after you put out the fire . This is just a way for Obama to look busy in between golf outings .
now if we just do the same to obama
hes been even less of a help
This oil deposit will spew oil gas and toxins forever. 20 bill is a drop in the bucket compared to what its going to destroy, it will never be cleaned up. This is why they were so eager to agree to 20bil.....
Killing BP will only dry up the only source of funds for the cap and cleanup. Congress is putting on a dog and pony show to try to make themselves look "in charge".
I'd be willing to bet that each and every oil company in the US has bought and sold oil from that particular well, and therefore is to be held responsible for the accident. Let's get real here.
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