Opinion Brief

Tony Hayward's 'embarrassing' day off

BP's CEO took a day off to watch a yacht race sponsored by a Wall Street bank. Did he mess up again?

For a day, at least, BP chief executive Tony Hayward got his life back. Hayward, whom BP recently relieved of his oil spill management duties, spent Saturday in the United Kingdom, watching his 52-foot sailing yacht "Bob" compete in a JPMorganChase-sponsered event off England's southern coast. While the outing drew condemnation from both the White House and members of Congress, a BP spokesperson defended Hayward's attendance, noting it was his first day off in two months. Did Hayward step in it again? This must be "the world's dumbest CEO," says Kelly McParland in the National Post. "If there is a case study in how not to act in a crisis, this guy is it." Hayward isn't entirely to blame, says Jonathan Fenby in the Guardian. For the sake of appearances alone, his employer ought to have made certain that its "Chief Embarrasment Officer" spent "a dutiful weekend at his desk" — even if he closed the office door and watched World Cup games. Watch video of Hayward aboard "Bob" below:

Recommended

Will Moscow drone attacks turn Russians against Putin?
A building damaged by a drone attack in Moscow
Talking point

Will Moscow drone attacks turn Russians against Putin?

Uganda's 'shameful' new anti-gay law
Protesters against Uganda's anti-homosexuality bill
Global lens

Uganda's 'shameful' new anti-gay law

War under the sea
A nuclear-powered U.S. Navy submarine
Briefing

War under the sea

Xi Jinping tells national security team to prepare for 'worst-case scenario'
Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Chinese Troubles

Xi Jinping tells national security team to prepare for 'worst-case scenario'

Most Popular

Why are so many boomers homeless?
Homeless person and tents
Today's big question

Why are so many boomers homeless?

Xi Jinping tells national security team to prepare for 'worst-case scenario'
Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Chinese Troubles

Xi Jinping tells national security team to prepare for 'worst-case scenario'

Fossils uncovered in Australia are 107 million-year-old pterosaurs bones, scientists say
Reconstruction of Australian pterosaur.
ptero-sighting

Fossils uncovered in Australia are 107 million-year-old pterosaurs bones, scientists say