Finance
Omv Taps Bp Executive Emma Delaney as First Female CEO
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 10, 2026
2 min readLast updated: April 10, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleQuick Summary
OMV will appoint BP veteran Emma Delaney as its first female CEO and Chair of the Executive Board starting September. She succeeds Alfred Stern, who will step down when his term ends on August 31, 2026, after leading a strategic transformation at OMV.
OMV taps BP executive Emma Delaney as first female CEO
Emma Delaney’s Appointment and OMV’s Strategic Direction
Announcement of New CEO
April 10 (Reuters) - Austrian oil and gas group OMV is set to appoint Emma Delaney as CEO and chair of the executive board from September, the company said in a statement on Friday.
Delaney has been with BP <BP.L> since 1995 and would replace current chief executive Alfred Stern, who has held the post since September 2021 and had announced in May that he would not stand for re-election when his contract expires at the end of August.
Significance of Delaney’s Nomination
"The Executive Board nomination of Emma Delaney will give OMV an even stronger international visibility," said Edith Hlawati, OMV's deputy chair, adding that Delaney would become the group's first-ever female chief executive.
Supervisory Board Recommendation
The Vienna-based group's supervisory board has recommended appointing Delaney for an initial three-year period, with the possibility of extension for a further two years, subject to a resolution by the supervisory board at its next meeting.
Delaney’s Experience at BP
In 2020, Irishwoman Delaney took the helm of the British oil major's customers and products business, which includes BP's petrol station network, lubricants business and EV charging.
Statements from Austrian Officials
"OMV is a leading Austrian company with international influence and of vital importance to the domestic economy and industry," Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker and Finance Minister Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer said in a statement.
"Our aim is to further develop and strategically strengthen OMV as one of Europe’s leading energy companies. The appointment of Emma Delaney as the new CEO sends a strong signal in this direction."
Future Focus for OMV
Key Areas of Strategic Development
Hattmannsdorfer added that the focus for OMV is on in-house raw material extraction and further diversification, as well as the development of its chemicals and plastics business.
BP’s Leadership Transition
BP said Richard Harding will replace Delaney and step in as acting executive vice president for customers & products, effective April 13.
Reporting Credits
(Reporting by Danny Callaghan in Gdansk and Shadia Nasralla in London, Editing by Miranda Murray and Hugh Lawson)
Key Takeaways
- •Emma Delaney, an Irish executive with BP since 1995 and EVP for Customers & Products since 2020, will become CEO and Chair of OMV’s Executive Board from September — a historic first for the company. (bp.com)
- •Current CEO Alfred Stern, in office since September 1, 2021, will not seek re-election and will step down at the end of his term on August 31, 2026, after spearheading OMV’s shift toward sustainable energy and landmark transactions such as the Borouge deal. (omv.com)
- •Delaney’s appointment is expected to enhance OMV’s international visibility, with the Supervisory Board recommending an initial three-year term, extendable by two years, subject to formal approval. (omv.com)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about OMV taps BP executive Emma Delaney as first female CEO
1Who has OMV appointed as its next CEO?
OMV has appointed BP executive Emma Delaney as its next CEO and chair of the executive board, effective September.
2Who is Emma Delaney replacing as OMV CEO?
Emma Delaney will replace Alfred Stern, who will step down at the end of August after serving since September 2021.
3What is significant about Emma Delaney’s appointment at OMV?
Emma Delaney will become OMV’s first-ever female chief executive officer.
4How long is Emma Delaney's initial CEO term at OMV?
Her initial term is set for three years, with a possible two-year extension upon supervisory board approval.
5What roles has Emma Delaney previously held at BP?
Emma Delaney led BP’s customers and products business, including petrol stations, lubricants, and EV charging.
