(Reuters) -BP is considering Sam Laidlaw, the former chief executive of British Gas owner Centrica, as a leading candidate to succeed Helge Lund as chair, Sky News reported on Saturday.
The timing and status of Laidlaw's engagement with BP remain unclear, the report said.
Ken MacKenzie, who retired as chair of mining group BHP earlier this year, has also been approached about the role, Sky News added.
BP declined to comment.
Lund was re-elected in April with sharply reduced support amid pressure from activist investor Elliott Management and criticism from climate-focused shareholders, some of whom had called for a vote against Lund.
Nearly 25% of BP shareholders opposed Lund's re-election at the annual general meeting.
BP subsequently announced he would step down, likely in 2026. Board member Amanda Blanc is in charge of finding Lund's successor.
(Reporting by Bipasha Dey in Bengaluru; Editing by Mark Potter and Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
