Bernard Looney

Bernard Looney is the former chief executive of the British energy company BP. He is newsworthy because his successor, Meg O'Neill, has recently been appointed and will be taking home a significantly higher compensation package, at least £11.7m this year, more than double what Looney earned. This change in leadership comes at a time when BP appears to be refocusing on oil and gas, despite previous commitments to renewable energy. The high profits of oil companies amidst rising fuel prices are also contributing to the news' relevance. Looney's tenure is thus implicitly being contrasted with the direction BP is now taking under O'Neill, particularly regarding its commitment to transitioning away from fossil fuels.