BP Annual Review 2003 Introduction Performance highlights Chairman's letter Group chief executive's review It starts here Financial performance Business performance Environmental and social performance Summary accounts Summary corporate governance Summary directors' remuneration report Board of directors Annual general meeting and information for shareholders Further information	Accountability to shareholders The board governance policies emphasize the importance of the relationship between the board and the shareholders. The board is accountable to shareholders for the performance and activities of the entire group. It is accountable in a variety of ways, not least in the requirement for all directors to be subject to regular re-election. The 2004 annual general meeting (AGM) will be asked to approve a move to annual re-election for all directors. Names submitted to shareholders for re-election are accompanied by detailed biographies. The board is required to be proactive in obtaining an understanding of shareholder preferences and to evaluate systematically the economic, social, environmental and ethical matters that may influence or affect the interests of its shareholders. The board promotes these interests through its policy-making and monitoring functions and its active consideration of group strategy. As a result, shareholder interests are embedded in the goals established by the board for the company. In this section Accountability to shareholders   Shareholder communications, meetings and voting   The work of the board in governance   The chairman, senior independent director and company secretary   Board succession planning   Independence   Induction, training and evaluation   Combined Code compliance   Internal control review   Related links   The executive and non-executive members of the board   Board of directors

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