The board of BP plc (UK) announced that W. Douglas Ford, chief executive downstream, will step down from the board on March 31, 2002. Ford joined the board of BP in January 2000. Prior to the merger, he was executive vice president of Amoco Corp. Ford’s board responsibility for downstream will be assumed by Rodney Chase, BP deputy chief executive.
BP's Chief Executive Lord Browne said, "I also wish to express my thanks to Doug Ford for his considerable contribution to the progress that this company has made since the merger with Amoco. As we have strong succession plans in place, we have felt able to respond to Doug's desire to return to the US for personal reasons."
