Tony

BP plc CEO Tony Hayward, who was tapped last year to lead the troubled UK-based major, called 2007 a year “which most of us will be glad to leave behind.” He said BP’s final quarter’s profits were “very disappointing,” but BP is making “good, step-by-step progress” to ramp up new oil and natural gas fields and trim excess overhead.

BP plc CEO Tony Hayward, who was tapped last year to lead the troubled UK-based major, said Tuesday that 2007 was a year “which most of us will be glad to leave behind.” He called the final quarter’s profits “very disappointing,” but he said BP is making “good, step-by-step progress” to ramp up new oil and natural gas fields and trim excess overhead.

Tony Hayward, who became CEO of BP plc in May, on Thursday unveiled a reorganization plan that will reduce the number of business units to two from three and create an alternative energy division.

There’s a downside to being a top energy marketer — everyone wants to hire your employees. BP plc CEO Tony Hayward said last week the company has lost its fair share of energy traders to investment banks in recent months, but the company will not overpay to retain talent.

There’s a downside to being a top energy marketer — everyone wants to hire your employees. BP plc CEO Tony Hayward said Tuesday the company has lost its fair share of energy traders to investment banks in recent months, but he said the company will not overpay to retain talent.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) asked former Alaska Gov. Tony Knowles, a rival for her Senate seat in 2004, to put his money where his mouth is and come to Capitol Hill to lobby Senate Democrats to vote in favor of opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. He publicly has claimed he could drum up enough votes from Democrats to break the logjam over the controversial issue.

Signifying a changing of the guard of sorts, BP plc’s board said Thursday that Tony Hayward, 45, will succeed Richard Olver , 56, as CEO of BP’s vast Exploration and Production unit. Hayward most recently held the position of COO for Exploration and Production. Olver will replace Rodney Chase, 59, in his duties as deputy chief executive. BP said Chase will retire from the company on April 23, 2003, but will relinquish his role as deputy chief executive “with immediate effect.” Chase will remain on the board as senior advisor to BP CEO John Browne. In his new position, Olver will hold accountability for health, safety and the environment, human resources management, marketing, technology and digital business. BP said he will have regional responsibility for Europe (including Russia), the Middle East, Africa and the Americas. The board also announced that it intends to appoint Hayward, John Manzoni, 43, chief executive of Refining and Marketing, and David Allen , 48, group chief of staff, to the board as managing directors of BP, effective Feb. 1. The company said Allen will be accountable for economics and planning, corporate communications and senior management education.

Signifying a changing of the guard of sorts, BP plc’s board said Thursday that Tony Hayward, 45, will succeed Richard Olver, 56, as CEO of BP’s vast Exploration and Production unit. Hayward most recently held the position of COO for Exploration and Production. Olver will replace Rodney Chase, 59, in his duties as deputy chief executive. BP said Chase will retire from the company on April 23, 2003, but will relinquish his role as deputy chief executive “with immediate effect.” Chase will remain on the board as senior advisor to BP CEO John Browne. In his new position, Olver will hold accountability for health, safety and the environment, human resources management, marketing, technology and digital business. BP said he will have regional responsibility for Europe (including Russia), the Middle East, Africa and the Americas. The board also announced that it intends to appoint Hayward, John Manzoni, 43, chief executive of Refining and Marketing, and David Allen, 48, group chief of staff, to the board as managing directors of BP, effective Feb. 1. The company said Allen will be accountable for economics and planning, corporate communications and senior management education.

Alaska Gov. Tony Knowles introduced legislation to authorize the Alaska Railroad Corp. to issue $17 billion in tax-exempt bonds to finance the proposed Alaska Highway natural gas pipeline. The bill states that building a gas pipeline is an essential purpose of the state and critical to the state’s health and welfare.