Hayward is Out and BP Names First American CEO

It’s official: BP’s CEO Tony Hayward was forced to leave the oil giant and for the first time in the company’s history, BP has named an American  to take over its leadership.

The newly named CEO of BP, Bob Dudley, says his top priority is sealing its blown oil well for good and cleaning and restoring the Gulf of Mexico.

Bob Dudley said on ABC’s “Good Morning America” on Tuesday he does not expect any more oil to gush into the Gulf as BP PLC moves to permanently plug the well with cement after capping it nearly two weeks ago.

According to the Associated Press, Dudley told ABC he plans to change the company’s culture and make sure checks and balances are in place to prevent a repeat of the disaster.

Under Hayward, BP was responsible for the April 20 explosion that destroyed the leased oil rig Deepwater Horizon, killing 11 workers. It was the largest man-made environmental disaster in the nation’s history.

While Hayward has been highly criticized by the media and by the general public, he will leave the oil giant in strong financial standing with an estimated $1.6 million buyout plan.

Dudley is a chemical engineer by training and has been with BP since 1998 when the company merged with Amoco. Dudley was raised in Mississippi and recalls many family trips fishing and swimming along the Louisiana and Mississippi coastal regions.

Tags: bob dudley, bp, tony hayward