Exclusive: BP Chairman Talks To Sky

Pete Norman, Sky News Online

BP chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg has told Sky's Jeff Randall that embattled chief executive Tony Hayward is to have a changed role in dealing with the oil spill.

Asked by Randall about Mr Hayward's ongoing role, Mr Svanberg said: "He is now handing over the operation to Bob Dudley."

Robert Dudley has been the managing director of the oil firm since 2009, and prior to the appointment he was president and chief executive of TNK-BP, Russia's third largest oil and gas company.

Mr Svanberg also told Randall that comments by Mr Hayward have had detrimental effects as the company seeks to control the fallout from the disaster.

"It is clear Tony has made remarks that have upset people," Mr Svanberg said.

The chairman explained that Mr Hayward left Britain for the US after the explosion with the express purpose of dealing with the response to the spill, but stopping the flow has not gone to plan.

"Everyone thought it would be done faster," Mr Svanberg said.

The company's strategy had been for Mr Hayward to be the primary voice however the oil firm has struggled with public relations, especially after his Congressional roasting on Wednesday.

Mr Svanberg admitted the rig blowout is turning from an industrial accident into a broader political concern with questions of the company's ongoing viability being raised.

The company is also marking more than £6bn in assets to sell, as well as withholding dividend payments to shareholders, to fund compensation claims.

Mr Svanberg, whose background is in telecommunications, will now expand his own involvement.

"This has now turned into a reputation matter, a financial squeeze for BP and a political matter and that is why you will now see more of me," Mr Svanberg said.

On Wednesday, Mr Svanberg was called into a 25-minute, one-on-one meeting with US President Barack Obama over BP's response to the April accident.

"As this is now turning to a different type of crisis, that is where I come in," he said.

The BP executives were called to a meeting with President Obama

The chairman said the Gulf of Mexico deep water accident was "a low probability accident with very high consequences".

Mr Svanberg admitted that "America is frustrated" at BP's accident but under repeated questioning by Randall declined to confirm if there would be a major management overhaul.

"I still strongly believe in BP and that we will come through this," he said.

"This incident is a tragic one and something that should never have happened," he said.

A geologist by profession, Mr Hayward has struggled with public relations

Speaking on Sky News after the interview, Randall said the most important aspect of Mr Svanberg's interview was his lack of public support for the embattled chief executive.

"He never really came out with a ringing endorsement that, 'Tony is my man'," Randall said.

After two months of relying on Mr Hayward to get the company's position across to both public and government, it has now decided to engage a different approach.

"This is a change of tactic by BP. The chairman is going up the agenda and Tony Hayward is going down the agenda," Randall revealed.

BP shares on the US stock market rose in value after news of Mr Hayward's changed role was announced.