BP's top executive in the United States, Dave Lawler, is leaving the company, according to an internal memo sent to employees. This departure comes just weeks after the resignation of BP's global CEO, Bernard Looney.

Lawler, who has been serving as the Chair and President of BP America since July 2020, as well as CEO of BPX Energy, has decided to pursue new career opportunities outside of BP after nine years of service.

Orlando Alvarez will take over as the new head of BP America, while continuing his role as Senior Vice President for Gas and Power Trading. Meanwhile, Kyle Koontz, the current Vice President for Development at BPX Energy, will assume the position of CEO for the division.

Lawler had significant responsibilities, overseeing more than 30,000 US employees and managing BP's substantial investments in the United States, which have exceeded $140 billion since 2005. The United States is home to BP's largest economic footprint globally.

This leadership transition comes amidst a period of upheaval for BP, triggered by the sudden departure of CEO Bernard Looney on September 13. Looney resigned after acknowledging that he had not fully disclosed past personal relationships with colleagues.

Murray Auchincloss, BP's Chief Financial Officer, has taken on the role of CEO on an interim basis following Looney's exit.

Bernard Looney, who had been with BP since 1991 and became CEO in 2020, aimed to transform the oil company into an integrated energy firm and guide it through the energy transition. Lawler was one of Looney's key appointments, entrusted with leading BP's US operations.

Lawler joined BP in 2014, coming from SandRidge Energy, a US-based oil and gas company, where he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.

Andrew Gillick, a Managing Director at energy consultancy Enverus, noted that Lawler's departure, coming so soon after the CEO change, poses significant challenges for BP. Lawler's leadership over the past three years had positioned BP as a leader in both traditional and transition energy spaces.