Beleaguered BP chief set to be replaced by American

A US government official briefed by senior BP figures told the Associated Press that a change of leadership at the firm was under way.

It comes ahead of a meeting of the oil giant's board of directors today and the release of interim results tomorrow.

Today's meeting, understood to be taking place at BP's

headquarters in London at about midday, could be followed by a formal statement

outlining the chief executive's exit plan.

The senior US official, who spoke to Associated Press on condition of anonymity, said he was briefed on the decision late last week.

Over the weekend, Mr Hayward was reportedly in talks with the BP board over a compensation deal.

A spokesman for BP maintained that the chief executive continued to have the "full support of the board and senior management" and that the company would not comment on "speculation".

But it is now widely expected that Mr Hayward – the man who has soaked much of the criticism over the Deepwater Horizon oil spill – will step down in the coming days. Bob Dudley, currently BP managing director, is tipped to be his successor.

BP were quick to stress Mr Dudley's links to the American south when he took over day-to-day running of the clean-up operation.

Mr Hayward himself noted that "having grown up in Mississippi, Bob has a deep appreciation and affinity for the Gulf Coast".

The potential elevation of an American to the post of chief executive could take some of the venom out of attacks from US politicians over BP's handling of the disaster.

The extent of the damage to BP's balance sheet will be revealed tomorrow when it posts its latest interim results.

It is believed that the massive compensation and clean-up costs associated with the slick is likely to have plunged BP into the red for the first time since 1992.

By that time, the fate of Mr Hayward could already be known.

The chief executive – a BP employee for 28 years – has been repeatedly singled out for attack over his handling of the Gulf of Mexico spill.

He angered Washington early on in the disaster by expressing a wish to have his "life back". Further gaffes including being seen yachting at the height of the crisis.