BP’s renewable energy boss Sanyal quits by surprise

LONDON, Sept. 14 (Reuters) – BP (BP.L) director Dev Sanyal, responsible for low-carbon production and natural gas, will leave the energy company at the end of the year, announced on Tuesday BP, an unexpected start at a time when BP seeks to rapidly develop its activities linked to renewable energies and abandon oil.

Sanyal, who joined BP 32 years ago, will be replaced by Anja-Isabel Dotzenrath, who was until recently CEO of RWE Renewables. She will join BP on March 1, 2022.

Sanyal’s departure comes 19 months after Bernard Looney took charge of BP with an ambitious strategy to transform the oil and gas company into a major renewable energy and power company.

Sanyal was among three executives shortlisted to succeed former CEO Bob Dudley, as well as Looney and former CFO Brian Gilvary, company sources previously told Reuters.

In July 2020, Sanyal was appointed head of natural and low-carbon gas as part of a major corporate overhaul. He will hand over his responsibilities in the fourth quarter of 2021, BP said.

British and Indian nationals have overseen major investments in recent months, including in US and UK offshore wind projects.

He previously headed BP’s alternative energy business where he oversaw BP’s acquisition of a 43% stake in Lightsource BP, a leading solar company.

Dotzenrath is an electrical engineer with over 25 years of senior experience in energy, industry and management consulting.

Reporting by Ron Bousso, editing by Louise Heavens and Jason Neely

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