by Ron Bousso and Sarah McFarlane

LONDON (Reuters) – BP’s board has shortlisted interim chief executive Murray Auchincloss and two senior female executives to replace Bernard Looney as chief executive, three industry and company sources told Reuters.

The oil major was rocked by the sudden resignation in September of Bernard Looney, who had held the job for less than four years, after several accusations of personal relationships with colleagues.

The group’s People and Governance Committee, led by BP Chairman Helge Lund, is currently considering the applications of Murray Auchincloss, Carol Howle, head of trade and shipping, and Emma Delaney, head of customers and products, according to sources.

The committee, which is expected to make a decision in the coming weeks, is also considering external candidates, these sources said.

Carol Howle or Emma Delaney would thus become the first woman to head one of the five largest Western oil and gas companies.

An internal appointment would also signal that the board supports continuing BP’s current strategy, which aims to reduce carbon emissions, expand renewable energy and clean fuel production capacity while cutting oil production and gas by 2030, the sources said.

The appointment is expected to be announced in the first quarter of next year, Reuters reported earlier this month, citing industry sources.

“The process of appointing a new CEO is ongoing. We will not comment on details or speculation regarding potential candidates,” a BP spokesperson said.

BP had previously indicated that the group would consider internal and external candidates.

The three shortlisted candidates are all part of BP management and were appointed by Bernard Looney after he took office in February 2020.

According to several analysts and investors, Murray Auchincloss would be the most likely choice of the three, given his experience leading the company and his work with investors and the board of directors.

The close link between Murray Auchincloss and Bernard Looney could, however, work against him, according to two sources within BP.

Carol Howle has more than 20 years’ experience at BP and has held several senior roles in one of the world’s largest energy trading divisions, becoming the office head of former chief executive Bob Dudley before join the Bernard Looney management team in 2020.

Emma Delaney has worked at BP since 1995 in marketing and sales roles in the Middle East and Asia. She joined Bernard Looney’s transition management team in 2019 and subsequently became head of customers and products, a key growth market in BP’s strategy due to its extensive network of fueling and charging stations .

(Reporting Ron Bousso; Dagmarah Mackos, edited by Blandine Hénault)

Copyright © 2023 Thomson Reuters