BP chief hands over Gulf spill control

Bob Dudley is now the front man in the efforts to stop the leak and deal with the economic damage it has caused.

Mr Dudley, who grew up in Mississippi and has led BP's operations in the Americas and Asia, was appointed president and chief executive of the newly-created Gulf Coast Restoration Organisation and will report to Mr Hayward.

He said yesterday: "We'll build an organisation that over the longer term fulfils BP's commitments to restore the livelihoods and the environment of the Gulf Coast."

The reorganisation followed a series of humiliations in recent days for BP. Last week it bowed to President Barack Obama's demand that it set up a $20bn fund to cover damages and to suspend dividend payments, followed a day later by a public thrashing for Mr Hayward before a Congressional committee.

He repeatedly apologised and expressed sorrow for the oil leak caused by a fire and explosion on the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig on April 20 in which 11 workers died but members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee were infuriated when Mr Hayward denied direct responsibility for operational decisions which may have led to the disaster.

Congressional investigators had released documents purporting to show BP made a series of money-saving shortcuts and blunders.

The appointment of Mr Dudley frees Mr Hayward to focus on the rest of the business.