BP clarified on Saturday that Tony Hayward was still in charge of the energy giant and its Gulf cleanup operations a day after another executive told Sky News that Hayward was relinguishing day-to-day spill duties, the New York Times reports.

"Tony receives regular updates from the gulf," said Sheila Williams, a BP spokeswoman, in an e-mail message to the Times.

BP Chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg said in an interview Friday with the British television network that Hayward was going to change his role in dealing with the spill and hand duties over to BP managing director Bob Dudley.

White House chief: Yacht trip another gaffe for BP

"It is clear Tony has made remarks that have upset people," Svanberg told Sky News. "He will be more home and be there and be here, but I think it has been a difficult period and as long as we don't close the well and take care of this, there will be criticisms about many things. Right now that is our focus to make that happen."

BP spokesman Daren Beaudo said in an e-mail Friday evening to USA TODAY that Hayward was still BP's CEO and was leading the oil response. "He has the full support of the board," Beaudo said.

Beaudo also added that the BP chairman was referring to a June 4 press release during his interview with Sky News that announced BP would create a separate stand-alone organization to manage the long-term response once the spill is over that Dudley will lead.

BP says there will be a transition "over time" to Dudley, according to the Times.

"Obviously," Williams told the Times, "Tony's main priority remains overseeing all BP operations. Over all, there will be some responsibilities handed over, but Tony will remain in full control until we have stopped the leak."

Hayward was grilled Thursday on Capitol Hill by lawmakers about the company's oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and its response to the disaster.

(Posted by Jessica Durando)