The oil company's venture into Russia could either make or break the reputation of its chief executive
No businessman in Britain, or quite possibly Europe, is as highly regarded as Lord Browne, the chief executive of BP. Since taking control of the company in 1995, he has led the oil industry's consolidation, making $100bn of acquisitions, and earned countless plaudits from shareholders and commentators. Browne's ability to cement deals, and to mobilise the support of shareholders, put the rest of the oil industry to shame, and none more so than BP's traditional European rival Royal Dutch/Shell Group. Then in 2002, the wheels on Browne's bus started to wobble. They haven't fallen off, ...
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