Russia: BP's Hayward Didn't Discuss Job With Sechin

MOSCOW (Dow Jones)--BP PLC (BP) Chief Executive Tony Hayward didn't discuss his job or a possible successor in a meeting Monday with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin, a government aide said. Sechin earlier Monday told reporters that after recent discussions about Hayward leaving BP, he might discuss a possible successor at a meeting in Moscow, according to the aide, who requested anonymity. Russian news agencies may have misunderstood or inaccurately reported Sechin's views on the BP meeting, the aide said. In Monday's meeting, Hayward said BP will "continue a strategic partnership" with its major joint venture, TNK-BP Holding (TNBP.RS), and state-controlled oil company OAO Rosneft (ROSN.RS), chaired by Sechin, the aide said. Safety was also a topic of discussion, following the Gulf of Mexico disaster. Russia represents about a quarter of BP's oil output. -By William Mauldin, Dow Jones Newswires; +7 495 232-9192; william.mauldin@dowjones.com (Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen in Moscow contributed to this article.) (END) Dow Jones Newswires June 28, 2010 10:16 ET (14:16 GMT)