BP fires exploration chief, unveils safety unit

BP’S incoming chief executive fired the executive responsible for deep water wells like the one that blew out in the Gulf of Mexico and announced a new unit to police safety practices throughout the company.

Bob Dudley took the steps yesterday to start work on repairing the company’s battered reputation, before officially taking over as chief executive from Tony Hayward today.

Dudley said Andy Inglis, BP’s chief executive for exploration and production, would be standing down and his divisions would be broken up into three parts.