Mining and commodities trading giant Glencore Xstrata said on Thursday it has appointed former BP chief executive Tony Hayward as its interim chairman until a permanent candidate can be found.

The move marks the return of Hayward, 55, to the top tier of the UK corporate sector since the huge rig explosion and oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico three years ago, which claimed 11 lives and is expected to cost BP more than $40bn in fines, cleanup costs and compensation payments.