LONDON (AP) — BP says its chief executive Tony Hayward has canceled a scheduled appearance at a London oil conference on Tuesday, citing his commitment to the Gulf of Mexico relief effort.
The last-minute pullout follows stinging criticism of Hayward’s attendance at a yacht race on the Isle of Wight off the coast of southern England on Saturday.
BP spokesman Jon Pack said Monday that Hayward’s "very heavy schedule of commitments to the Gulf of Mexico" had led him to cancel his appearance at the World National Oil Companies Congress.
Hayward had been due to give the keynote speech about the global responsibilities of international oil companies.
