The BP oil crisis: What leaders will emerge?

The BP oil spill that began with the April 20^th Deepwater Horizon explosion is now estimated to be the largest oil spill in history. Multiple story lines have evolved from this disaster, and each provides an opportunity for leaders to succeed or fail in remarkable ways. To follow are five ongoing themes from the disaster that have the potential to offer lasting lessons on leading through crises

1. CEO Survival

From the beginning, BP CEO Tony Hayward has seemed to bungle his way through the crisis. From the minimal early estimates of the amount of crude gushing into the Gulf of Mexico to his perplexing attendance at a yacht race and subsequent cancellation of a speaking appearance at an oil conference, Hayward has been consistently inconsistent. While the BP Board offered the embattled CEO public support, his role as the public face of BP has already been diminished, and there's speculation that the CEO will be terminated after the well has been capped. Can any leader rebound from the sheer number of gaffes following a disaster of this magnitude?

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