Mentor list / Mentor bio
Overview
Tony Hayward, currently chairs SierraCol Energy—Colombia’s largest independent oil producer—sits on the Board of Bahrain Oil & Gas Holding Company (Nogaholding), and has served as Chair of CC Energy since June 2023.
His previous board leadership roles include serving as Chair of Glencore plc (2014-2021) and as Chair and CEO of Genel Energy plc (2011-2017), where he guided exploration and production growth in Kurdistan. Additionally, he was the Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Energy Transition Partners, an Amsterdam-listed special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) focused on energy transition investments.
Tony is best known for his tenure as Group CEO of BP plc (2007-2010). While leading the company, he managed diverse upstream operations, drove investment into Asia, and navigated the catastrophic Deepwater Horizon spill, personally committing to remediation and governance overhaul.
Earlier in his career, he held key technical and financial roles within BP, including CEO of Exploration & Production (2003-2007) and Group Treasurer (2000-2002), following his appointment as a North Sea geologist in 1982.
He brings deep cross-sector expertise in:
• Energy transition investment – launching vehicles focused on sustainable energy infrastructure and transition plays.
• Upstream & exploration strategy – building oil & gas ventures in frontier regions amid volatile geopolitics.
• Crisis governance & remediation – leading corporate response to environmental disaster and embedding long-term safety controls.
• Commodities board leadership – chairing major natural-resource companies and aligning strategy with ESG and capital discipline.
Educated with a BSc in Geology (Aston University) and a PhD (University of Edinburgh), Tony combines technical insight with board leadership. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and multiple universities, he remains a visiting professor and advisor to academic institutions. His career reflects stewardship through growth, crisis resilience, and a shift toward transition-focused energy leadership.
PDF Profile
download pdf profileMajor Career Roles
BP plc
CEO
Glencore plc
Chair
Genel Energy plc
CEO and Chair
Other Career Highlights
US Business Council
Member
UK Business Council
Member
Peter G Peterson Institute for International Economics
Director
British Museum
Advisory Board member
Tsinghua School of Economics and Management (TSEM)
Adviser
AEA Investors LP
Partner
L1 Energy Ltd
Advisory Board member
Emirates Foundation
Trustee
TNK-BP
Board member
Aston University
Advancement Board Chair
Tata Steel Ltd
Non-Executive Director
Corus
Senior Independent Non-Executive Director
Citibank Europe plc
Adviser