Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/59979
Can an energy mogul talk like an environmentalist? BP's Lord John Browne believes passionately in oil and natural gas, but he is determined not to sully the water—or the land or the air—to make hydrocarbon-based fuels available to consumers. Oil&Water The world is brimming with people who need energy for lighting, climate control, and transportation; and Lord John Browne wants them to have it. He just doesn't want to destroy the earth while he figures out how to sup- ply it. The group chief executive of London-based BP was the first major oil execu- tive to speak out for cleaner and more efficient fuel while maintaining focus on growth and profits for the firm. Although he is committed to petroleum and natural gas, he is pouring millions of dollars into research on alternative fuel sources. He has set out to prove that oil and water really can mix, at least in the energy field. A vocal and visible commitment to sustainable development is only one thing that has made Browne an executive to watch. Since being named to the top post of BP in 1995, he has led the company to its current ranking as the No. 3 oil company and eighth-largest business in the world. He has done that partly by guiding the company through a series of mergers and acquisitions, most notably the 1998 merger with Amoco. Forbes lists the company's sales at more than $285 billion. Browne himself has a global outlook, a wide range of interests, and a dedica- by Sharon Shinn tion to education. He holds a degree in physics from Cambridge University and an MS in Business from Stanford University—along with honorary doctorates from Cranfield University, Thunderbird, and a host of other schools from Europe to Russia. He also serves on the advisory boards of Stanford, Cambridge, and Tsinghua Universities. He is a trustee of the British Museum and honorary trustee of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra; he has served with various national and international business organizations. Knighted in 1998, he was appointed a life peer in 2001. Perhaps all the honors and accolades simply reflect his enthusiasm and optimism about the world. In speeches and interviews, Browne constantly emphasizes one message: "Fatalism is the enemy of progress." While he doesn't underestimate the staggering troubles of the new century, he firmly believes they can be overcome. "Business, because it's a great integrator, can solve some of the major problems of the world," he says. "Health. The environment. Provision of water. The increase in the fertility of crops and land. Reduction of hunger. This is, after all, the noble purpose of business—to participate in and often lead to the solutions to some of these world problems." Browne recently spoke with BizEd about some of the solutions BP is seeking—and how to educate a new generation of managers to think about saving the world. 18 BizEd NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2005