People

Fall-out continues for former BP chief

Lord Browne of Madingley, who recently resigned as BP chief executive over revelations that he lied to a UK court, will be standing down from the board of Goldman Sachs. Browne has been a director of the investment bank since it went public in 1999.

The Guardian’s Nils Pratley (11 May) said that, according to its business principles, Goldman had a right to expect Browne to resign: if it is impossible for him to continue at BP, why should the investment bank apply a different standard? However, Pratley added, Goldman’s stance also looks nasty, the bank having displayed absolutely no sympathy or understanding in its cold calculation that a lie cannot be tolerated, whatever the circumstances.

Meanwhile, BP has appointed L Duane Wilson as its independent expert to monitor progress in implementing recommendations to improve safety performance at the oil giant’s five US refineries. Wilson was one of the 11 members of the Baker Panel, which was established on the recommendation of the US Chemical Safety Board to examine safety management systems in the aftermath of the fatal explosion at BP’s Texas City refinery.

June 2007