Woodside Names Liz Westcott Acting CEO as Meg O’Neill Heads to BP

Core Insights - Woodside Energy has appointed Liz Westcott as Acting CEO following the resignation of Meg O'Neill, who is leaving to join bp p.l.c. [1] - The company is in a critical phase with several large-scale growth projects underway while maintaining capital discipline [3] Leadership Transition - Liz Westcott, currently Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, will assume the role of Acting CEO effective December 18, 2025 [1][2] - Westcott has over 20 years of global operational experience, previously serving as COO at EnergyAustralia and holding senior roles at ExxonMobil [2] Company Performance and Strategy - Under O'Neill's leadership since 2021, Woodside has seen transformational growth, including the sanctioning of major projects like the Scarborough Energy Project and the Louisiana LNG project [4] - The company has delivered approximately $11 billion in shareholder dividends since 2022, indicating strong operational performance [4][5] Future Outlook - The board aims to finalize the CEO succession process in the first quarter of 2026, considering both internal and external candidates [7] - The transition occurs amid increased competition for experienced energy executives as the industry balances hydrocarbons investment with lower-carbon growth strategies [7]