Ecopetrol Names Carlos Suárez Rojas as Board Chairman

Ecopetrol has named Carlos Augusto Suárez Rojas as chairman of its board of directors as Colombia’s largest company refreshes the leadership overseeing its sprawling oil, gas and electricity businesses.

The board elected Suárez Rojas at a September 17 meeting, with Claudia Margarita Lafaurie Taboada appointed vice chair, Ecopetrol said.

Suárez Rojas replaces Luis Felipe Henao Cardona as chairman. Henao remains on the board and will chair Ecopetrol’s Corporate Governance and Sustainability Committee.

The company also reorganized the membership and leadership of its six main board committees covering audit and risk, business strategy, corporate governance and sustainability, compensation and nominations, health and safety, and technology and innovation.

Ricardo Rodríguez Yee will chair the Audit and Risk Committee, while José Camilo Manzur Jattin will head the Business Committee. Suárez Rojas will also chair the Compensation, Nomination and Culture Committee.

Betzy Patricia Martínez Zapatero was appointed chair of the Territorial Transformation and HSE Committee, while Lafaurie Taboada will lead the Technology and Innovation Committee.

The new committee appointments take effect immediately.

The leadership reshuffle comes as Ecopetrol manages one of Latin America’s largest integrated energy portfolios. The company accounts for more than 60% of Colombia’s hydrocarbon production and holds major positions in refining, transportation, petrochemicals and natural gas distribution.

Its reach has also expanded beyond traditional oil and gas. Ecopetrol owns 51.4% of electricity infrastructure group ISA, giving it exposure to power transmission operations across Colombia, Brazil, Chile, Peru and Bolivia, as well as infrastructure and telecommunications businesses.

Internationally, Ecopetrol also has upstream operations and exploration interests in the U.S. Permian Basin and Gulf of Mexico, as well as Brazil and Mexico.

The board changes therefore place Suárez Rojas at the head of an increasingly diversified energy group whose strategic decisions span hydrocarbons, electricity networks and infrastructure.

Ecopetrol thanked Henao for his tenure as chairman, citing his leadership and contribution to the company.

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