Poacher McLeod is BP’s ‘gamekeeper’

Oil major BP has promoted its head of investor relations to become its new strategy chief.

One analyst said the move for Fergus McLeod, formerly an award-winning analyst with the Edinburgh office of brokerage BT Alex Brown, was akin to “poacher turned gamekeeper”.

The appointment comes as investor pressure grows for BP to make significant changes a year after the Gulf of Mexico disaster.

McLeod replaces Ian Smale, who will leave the group after 30 years “to pursue the next phase of his career”, a spokeswoman for the company said.