LONDON, April 25 (Reuters) - Activist investor Elliott Investment Management wants oil major BP (BP.L) , opens new tab to replace its strategy chief and change its structure to separate upstream and downstream units to aid accountability, a source familiar with the situation said on Friday.

Elliott holds a stake of a little more than 5% in BP, the strategy, sustainability and ventures arm of which is led by Giulia Chierchia, a key architect of the company's ill-fated focus on renewables under previous CEO Bernard Looney.

Sign up here.

Chierchia joined BP from consultancy McKinsey & Company in 2020 and quickly rose up to strategy chief.

Gordon Birrell is responsible for BP's production and operations arm, which includes hydrocarbon upstream activities such as oil exploration and production as well as refineries, which are typically considered a downstream business.

Emma Delaney, meanwhile, is in charge of BP's customers and products division, which includes petrol and convenience store retail sales - businesses often labelled as downstream activities in other groups.

A BP spokesperson was unable to provide immediate comment.

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/activist-investor-elliott-pushes-change-bp-strategy-chief-structure-2025-04-25/