Meg O’Neill resigned as chief executive officer and managing director of Woodside Energy Group Ltd on December 18, 2025, to become chief executive of BP plc. Woodside’s board immediately appointed long‑time operations leader Liz Westcott as acting chief executive, a move designed to preserve continuity while the board searches for a permanent successor.
O’Neill’s four‑year tenure was marked by a series of strategic milestones. She oversaw the merger with BHP Petroleum, secured final investment decisions for the Scarborough Energy Project and the Louisiana LNG project, and guided the launch of the Sangomar gas plant and the Beaumont ammonia acquisition. Under her leadership, Woodside paid approximately $11 billion in dividends to shareholders since 2022, underscoring a focus on shareholder returns.
Westcott brings 25 years of experience from ExxonMobil and a decade as chief operating officer at Energy Australia. Her operational expertise and deep knowledge of Woodside’s LNG portfolio position her to maintain momentum on key projects while the board evaluates long‑term leadership.
The company’s flagship LNG projects are well advanced. Scarborough is 91 % complete and is expected to deliver first LNG in the second half of 2026, with a production capacity of up to 8 million tonnes per annum. Louisiana LNG, with a permitted capacity of 27.6 Mtpa, received a final investment decision for its foundational phase in April 2025 and is slated to begin first LNG exports in 2029, after the U.S. Department of Energy granted an additional 44‑month extension for non‑FTA exports.
Investors reacted to the leadership change with concern about continuity and project execution. The surprise departure of a CEO to a direct competitor raised questions about the company’s ability to sustain its LNG growth trajectory, especially amid a potential oversupply in the global LNG market.
Chairman Richard Goyder praised O’Neill’s contributions, noting that her leadership “set the foundation for Woodside’s transformational growth” and that Westcott’s appointment “provides strong continuity for our business and its people.” The board’s swift action signals confidence in its internal talent pipeline and a commitment to maintaining the company’s strategic focus on LNG expansion and cost discipline.
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