Book description
In April 2010, the world watched in alarm as BP's Macondo well
suffered a fatal explosion and a catastrophic leak. Over the next
three months, amid tense scenes of corporate and political
finger-pointing, millions of barrels of crude oil dispersed across the
Gulf of Mexico in what became one of the worst oil spills in history.
But there is more to BP's story than this. Tom Bergin, an oil broker
turned Reuters reporter, watched the 'two-pipeline company' of the
early 1980s grow into a dynamic oil giant and PR machine by the turn
of the twenty-first century. His unique access to key figures before,
during and after the spill - including former CEO Tony Hayward - has
enabled him to piece together this compelling account of a corporation
in crisis, and to examine how crucial decisions made during BP's
remarkable turnaround paved the way for its darkest hour.
Tom Bergin has reported on the energy industry for over twelve
years, having previously worked as an oil broker. For the past seven
years he has headed Reuters's coverage of the oil industry in Europe,
the Middle East and Africa, and his work has been published in The
New York Times, The Times, The Wall Street
Journal, International Herald Tribune, The Globe and
Mail and the Shanghai Daily, as well as in dozens of
newspapers and magazines around the world. He is a regular television
and radio commentator, appearing on CNBC, ITV, the BBC and other
outlets as far away as New Zealand.
Apart from the oil industry, Tom has reported on financial scandals,
including the rise and fall of Enron, environmental issues, EU
politics and terrorist attacks. He lives in London with his wife, a
former Reuters reporter turned investment banker, and two young sons.
