BP today announced that it will appoint Richard Herbert as its new head of exploration. Herbert will succeed Mike Daly who has chosen to retire from BP at the end of 2013 after a career of 28 years with the company, eight leading BP's exploration function.

Herbert will rejoin BP from Talisman Energy where he has held the position of Executive Vice President (EVP), Exploration since 2009.

BP Group Chief Executive Bob Dudley said: “I am pleased to welcome Richard back to BP. He brings a wealth of exploration and leadership experience and expertise, gained across the world, which is aligned well with BP's Upstream and exploration strategy.”

Before joining Talisman, Herbert spent six years with TNK-BP in Russia, serving first as VP Exploration and then EVP Technology. Prior to TNK-BP, Herbert had a 19 year career with BP. He first joined BP as an exploration geologist in 1984 and held a number of senior technical and leadership positions in operations across the world, latterly leading BP's Angolan business and then the Wytch Farm oilfield in the UK.

Mike Daly has led BP's exploration function for eight years, overseeing the re-energising of BP's resource renewal activity. Under his leadership, BP has accessed new deepwater exploration positions, including in Angola, Australia, Brazil, Canada and Libya, and deepened existing positions in the Gulf of Mexico and Egypt. He also led in resource access deals for BP in the Rumaila field in Iraq, the partnership with Reliance Industries Limited in India, tight gas in Oman, Canadian oil sands and shale plays around the world.

Bob Dudley said: “Mike leaves BP a thriving exploration organisation, with a deep, world-class portfolio and a drilling programme that is gaining momentum once more, making a number of significant discoveries already this year. His leadership has been underpinned by his passion for geoscience and deep appreciation of the importance of relationships with governments and partners. I wish Mike every success in the future – he has made a lasting contribution to BP.”

Following an early career as a field geologist, Daly joined BP in 1986. After holding a series of functional and leadership roles around the world, in 2000 he became BP's regional president for the Middle East and South Asia. He was appointed head of exploration and access for BP in 2006.

Herbert will join BP as Chief Operating Officer, Exploration at the end of October, and will be based in London. He will report to Lamar McKay, BP's chief executive, Upstream.