Who has been appointed to lead BP's upstream and downstream units, and what is the context of these appointments?

BP announced that company veteran Gordon Birrell will lead its upstream unit, while Richard Harding will serve as interim head of the downstream unit, as part of a previously announced organisational change into two main business segments.

What businesses are included in BP's newly defined upstream and downstream units?

The upstream unit brings together BP's oil and gas activities—including exploration, development, and production—as well as upstream joint ventures, renewable natural gas, and carbon capture businesses; the downstream unit includes refining, terminals, pipelines, mobility and convenience, biofuels, aviation, hydrogen, and the Castrol lubricants brand.

BP Appoints New Leaders for Upstream and Downstream Units

Jun 9, 2026

BP announced organizational changes appointing Gordon Birrell to lead its upstream unit and Richard Harding as interim head of downstream, covering oil, gas, renewables, refining, and biofuels.

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