‘I made my own coffee’: BP chair hints cost-cutting push led to his ouster as he hits back at ‘lies’ | CNN Business

Albert Manifold, the ousted chairman of BP, is refusing to leave quietly, creating a headache for the British oil giant as it seeks to move on from the latest bout of leadership upheaval. In a blistering response to his removal from the company Thursday, Manifold hit out at allegations about his conduct, calling them “lies.” His nearly 800-word statement suggests that his focus on cost-cutting – including eschewing a chauffeur in favor of public transport – may have made him unpopular at the firm. BP dismissed Manifold on Tuesday after less than a year in the role, citing “serious concerns” about “governance standards, oversight and conduct,” which it described as “unacceptable.” BP declined to provide further details, but media reports alleged that there were whistleblower complaints about bullying. A spokesperson for Manifold did not address these allegations specifically when asked by CNN, but referred us to Manifold’s statement in which he said he did not accept that “lies can be told about me.” The surprise ouster marks the latest round of turmoil at BP, which has suffered flip-flops on strategy and leadership instability in recent years. The company