BP (BP)

The chairman and senior independent director

        BP's board governance policies require the chairman and deputy chairman to be non-executive directors; throughout 2004 the posts were held by Mr Sutherland and Sir Ian Prosser respectively. Sir Ian also acts as our senior independent director and is the director whom shareholders may contact if they feel their concerns are not being addressed through normal channels.

        Between board meetings, the chairman has responsibility for ensuring the integrity and effectiveness of the board/executive relationship. This requires his interaction with the group chief executive between board meetings, as well as his contact with other board members and shareholders. The chairman represents the views of the board to shareholders on key issues, not least in succession planning issues for both executive and non-executive appointments. The chairman and all the non-executive directors meet periodically as the chairman's committee (see Board Practices — Chairman's committee report in this Item on page 149). The performance of the chairman is evaluated each year at a meeting of the chairman's committee, for which item of business he is not present. The company secretary reports to the chairman and is not part of the executive management.

The chairman and senior independent director

        BP's board governance policies require the chairman and deputy chairman to be non-executive directors; throughout 2004 the posts were held by Mr Sutherland and Sir Ian Prosser respectively. Sir Ian also acts as our senior independent director and is the director whom shareholders may contact if they feel their concerns are not being addressed through normal channels.

        Between board meetings, the chairman has responsibility for ensuring the integrity and effectiveness of the board/executive relationship. This requires his interaction with the group chief executive between board meetings, as well as his contact with other board members and shareholders. The chairman represents the views of the board to shareholders on key issues, not least in succession planning issues for both executive and non-executive appointments. The chairman and all the non-executive directors meet periodically as the chairman's committee (see Board Practices — Chairman's committee report in this Item on page 143). The performance of the chairman is evaluated each year at a meeting of the chairman's committee, for which item of business he is not present. The company secretary reports to the chairman and is not part of the executive management.