BP (BP.L) announced on Friday that Dave Lawler, its top executive in the United States and head of its shale business, is leaving the company to pursue new career opportunities. Lawler’s departure comes less than three weeks after BP’s chief executive, Bernard Looney, resigned over a scandal involving his personal relationships with colleagues.
The United States is a key market for BP, where it operates in the Gulf of Mexico, onshore shale basins, refineries and renewable energy projects. Lawler joined BP in 2014 and led its $10.5 billion acquisition of BHP’s onshore shale assets in 2018, making it one of the top producers in the Permian oil basin.
Lawler will be replaced by Orlando Alvarez, who will also continue as senior vice president of gas and power trading in the Americas. Kyle Koontz will take over as CEO of BPX Energy, BP’s shale unit.
The changes add to the challenges facing BP’s chairman, Helge Lund, and its board as they try to restore stability and confidence in the company amid the economic uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the energy transition.