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Gulf oil spill cleanup: BP's Hayward out, Dudley in

Despite acknowledging responsibility for the Gulf oil spill and trying to show confidence, BP CEO Tony Hayward appeared to be an executive who could not effectively communicate empathy.

With BP chief executive Tony Hayward stepping down from his role directing recovery efforts in the Gulf oil spill, questions are being raised regarding the approach and tone the company will adopt in continuing those operations.

Mr. Hayward is to be replaced by BP managing director Bob Dudley, whose arrival is at least two months ahead of schedule. The company reported in early June that Mr. Dudley would eventually take over operations once the oil leak ended. BP chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg made the announcement Friday to Sky News television in London.

Despite continued attempts to mitigate the leak, BP is drilling two separate relief wells it says will finalize the job. Those wells are expected to be completed by late August.

IN PICTURES: The Gulf oil spill's impact on nature

Ever since oil started escaping from the underground well eight weeks ago, Hayward has suffered as BP鈥檚 public face. Despite acknowledging responsibility for the disaster and trying to show confidence in a storm of uncertainty, he continued to project the image of an executive who could not effectively communicate empathy.

During congressional testimony Thursday, Hayward was criticized for insisting it was 鈥渢oo early鈥� to say the company had cut corners on safety.

"If there's any evidence that anybody put costs above safety, I will take action," he said, according to Reuters.

鈥淚 can't believe you said that," retorted Rep. Henry Waxman (D) of California, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. "Of course there鈥檚 evidence."

Hayward鈥檚 inexperience in the public spotlight probably became a source of fatigue, the evidence of which surfaced last month when The Times of London quoted him saying, 鈥淚 want my life back.鈥�

Mr. Svanberg defended Hayward, saying, 鈥淗ere is also a man who has [been through] 100 hours of TV time and maybe 500 interviews,鈥� adding that Hayward's congressional appearance was 鈥渁 very, very difficult hearing to go through.鈥�

According to a nine-year veteran of BP who worked in the company鈥檚 US headquarters until recently but asked that his name not be used due to a company policy that he not speak publicly, Hayward was 鈥渟hrouded in mystery鈥� and did not play a visible role in US operations.

鈥淗e definitely was a bit more removed from things going on here in the US and not really in tune with the way things were run here,鈥� this source says. 鈥淵ou always got that sense.鈥�

The source adds that he was not surprised to hear Hayward鈥檚 complaint about wanting his life back, saying it reflected 鈥渟o many layers of insulation鈥� that separated BP鈥檚 top executives from operations on the ground.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 want to call it arrogance, but that might be the right term,鈥� he says.

BP鈥檚 decision to replace Hayward following the company鈥檚 agreement Wednesday to set up a $20 billion escrow account for recovery claims suggests it is seeking to reverse its Wall Street ranking. BP鈥檚 US-listed shares have dropped 26 percent so far this month, making it the worst month for the company since October 1987, according to Reuters. The company is seeking $7 billion in bank loans.

Anthony Sabino, an oil and gas industry attorney in New York, says Hayward鈥檚 ouster was 鈥渁n important first step in renewing confidence in BP as an entity鈥� and will help the company jump-start its stock value.

鈥淏P has to be saved. This is different from a bailout. You need to give BP some room because if they鈥檙e not around to clean up the mess, then who the heck will?鈥� says Mr. Sabino. 鈥淭he bottom line is it鈥檚 their mess. Which means you need to allow them to make some money.鈥�

Related:

Who is Bob Dudley? Five things to know about BP's new point man.

BP oil spill: Tony Hayward's stonewalling approach before Congress

Five crucial moves by BP: Did they lead to Gulf oil spill disaster?

IN PICTURES: The Gulf oil spill's impact on nature