Embattled BP chief exedcutive Tony Hayward has been relieved of the day-to-day handling of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, BP chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg announced in a TV interview Friday, dpa reported.
Svanberg told Sky News in London the decision had been taken because remarks made by Hayward had "upset people."
The task of the day-to-day handling of the massive spill would be taken on by BP managing director Bob Dudley.
"It is clear Tony has made remarks that have upset people," Svanberg said.
At a tense Congressional hearing in Washington Thursday, Hayward was accused of "stonewalling" for failing to answer questions.
Hawyard, who had been in the US since the April 20 explosion of the Deepwater Horizon platform, is returning to Britain.