BP CEO Tony Hayward has given a course in what a CEO should NOT say during a crisis. Hayward has repeatedly downplayed the importance of the situation and has most recently said that he wanted to end so that he could get his life back. These statements have made him appear out-of-touch and unaware of the impact of the situation.
Hayward should be focusing on the environmental impact of the oil leak and how it is having a negative impact on people's livelihoods. He should be sympathetic to the situation, and not trying to down play the situation. Hayward has portrayed himself as selfish and more concerned with his company than with the people who live on the gulf.
Yesterday images were released that showed animals covered in oil, and there were many reports of oil plumes in the gulf. These are clearly devastating results of the oil leak in the gulf and further the PR problems that BP faces. Clearly Hayward is an inadequate spokesperson for the crisis for BP, but they need someone to step up who can handle the situation and communicate the goals of the company without making the company look only self-interested.
http://www.newsweek.com/2010/06/02/what-not-to-say-when-your-company-is-ruining-the-world-.html
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