Governance and succession
The board regularly considers how it operates and the appropriate composition and mix around the board table – both to respond to today’s challenges and BP’s future strategic direction. Antony Burgmans, the current chair of the remuneration committee, will stand down as a director in 2016. In anticipation of his departure, Dame Ann Dowling will take over the chair of that committee during 2015. We have also considered the chairs and membership of all other committees. In 2012, upon Andrew Shilston joining the board and being appointed the senior independent director, we announced that Antony Burgmans would retain a role as an internal sounding board. This role will cease after the annual general meeting. Andrew will join the remuneration and nomination committees. I would like to welcome Alan Boeckmann who joined the board as a non-executive director in July. Alan brings deep experience of contractor management, procurement and project delivery in our industry following his career in Fluor Corporation. Alan will be joining the remuneration committee after the annual general meeting. Our longest serving director, Iain Conn, left the company in December to become chief executive of Centrica after an almost 30-year career with BP, spanning different businesses and regions. George David will retire from the board at our AGM in April. My fellow directors and I thank both Iain and George for their huge contributions and work on behalf of the board. I would also like to thank Bob Dudley, his team, my board colleagues and all our employees for all that they have done. Finally, my thanks go to you, our shareholders, for the support you have shown us during the year.