BP boss quits amid gay affair revelations

London – BP plc’s chief executive officer John Browne has resigned amid newspaper reports about a court case involving a former gay lover, Jeff Chevalier. The move came after UK courts lifted a legal injunction preventing the Associated Newspapers group from publishing details of his private life.

"In my 41 years with BP I have kept my private life separate from my business life. I have always regarded my sexuality as a personal matter, to be kept private,” Browne said in a 1 May BP statement, which also announced Tony Hayward as his successor with immediate effect.

"Concerning the court documents disclosed today, I wish to acknowledge that I did have a four-year relationship with Jeff Chevalier who has now chosen to tell his story to Associated Newspapers, publishers of The Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday and Evening Standard.

"These allegations are full of misleading and erroneous claims. In particular, I deny categorically any allegations of improper conduct relating to BP," continued Browne.

In the same statement, Peter Sutherland, BP chairman, said: "The Board of BP has accepted John's resignation with the deepest regret. For a chief executive who has made such an enormous contribution to this great company, it is a tragedy that he should be compelled by his sense of honour to resign in these painful circumstances."