LONDON, April 18 (Reuters) - BP said on Thursday

its head of natural gas and low carbon energy Anja-Isabel

Dotzenrath will step down after just over two years as CEO

Murray Auchincloss seeks to simplify its management structure in

a cost-cutting drive.

Dotzenrath, who joined BP in March 2022 from RWE Renewables

to lead its efforts to rapidly expand in renewables and

low-carbon energy, said in an internal message to staff that she

decided to leave in order to devote more time to her family.

BP said in a statement it would reduce the size of its

executive leadership team to 10 members from 12, with its head

of innovation and technology Leigh-Ann Russell also leaving to

take up an external job opportunity.

Auchincloss, who became CEO in January after Bernard

Looney's abrupt exit last year, is seeking to improve BP's

performance amid investor doubts over its energy transition.

Auchincloss said that BP's strategy has not changed.

"We need to deliver as a simpler, more focused and higher

value company. These changes will help us do just that."

RBC Capital Markets analyst Biraj Borkhataria said BP could

emulate rival Shell by outlining the cost savings of

this organisational restructuring for investors at upcoming

results.

"The super-majors are inherently complex businesses, further

complicated by the uncertainty of the energy transition, and the

wave of deal-making in the low carbon space in recent years,"

Borkhataria said.

Dotzenrath, who will leave in the third quarter, will be

replaced by BP veteran William Lin, whose current regions,

corporates and solutions division will be folded into others.

Meanwhile, Auchincloss' current chief of staff Emeka

Emembolu will replace Russell.

"We could see more changes around the strategy for low

carbon businesses as the company seeks a more "pragmatic

approach" to the energy transition," Jefferies analyst Giacomo

Romeo said.

(Editing by xxxxxx)