The energy giant’s chief executive, Murray Auchincloss, has taken a profit-oriented approach and said in an interview that the company’s “principal aim” was increasing earnings.

BP on Tuesday reported a 30% drop in third-quarter profit to $2.3 billion, the lowest in almost four years, weighed down by weaker refining margins and oil trading results.

British oil major BP on Tuesday reported its weakest quarterly earnings in nearly four years, weighed down by a slump in crude prices.