News that BP's (NYSE:BP) Tony Hayward is stepping down as CEO of the company have been circulating today, based on a report citing a Russian official set to meet with him Monday.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin was cited by RIA Novosti, saying "Hayward is leaving his post, he will introduce his successor," referring to when the two would meet today.
American BP spokesman said concerning the report that "They are mistaken." And British BP spokeswoman Carolyn Copland reiterated that, saying the report was ""is definitely not correct," and that "Tony Hayward remains chief executive."
Hayward is meeting with Sechin today over concerns over the health of BP, which is in a joint venture with Russia's TNK-BP. That business accounts for close to 25 percent of all production and reserves of BP.
The idea that Hayward would step down in the midst of the crisis doesn't make sense to most industry watchers, who feel if he does step down at all, it would be after the crisis was handled; at minimum the plugging of the leak in the Gulf of Mexico.
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