BP's Tony Hayward has announced his resignation as chief executive of the company, allowing Robert Dudley to take the helm.

Mr Dudley, who served as chief executive of TNK-BP until late 2008, was called in to take command of the Gulf of Mexico spill after a series of PR gaffes by Mr Hayward caused outrage and resentment among the US public.

The US-born executive director has received high praise since taking on the role overseeing efforts to cap the leaking well and contain the spill.

The operation has involved training tens of thousands of local workers to clean up the oil, lay booms and skim coastal waters in a bid to contain the spill.

Mr Dudley has long pledged a commitment to promoting training and safety within BP, and this was a core component of his bid to take control of the company in 2007, a contest he lost to Mr Hayward.

Oil and Gas Directory: Training and Development