Petrobras names new CEO

Brazilian state-owned energy giant Petrobras has elected Jean Paul Terra Prates as the company’s new chief executive officer (CEO), following the resignation of Caio Mário Paes de Andrade announced at the end of last year.

Petrobras’ board of directors unanimously appointed Terra Prates as the company’s Director, until the next General Shareholders’ Meeting, and elected him as the CEO, with a mandate until 13 April 2023, both positions effective from 26 January.

Terra Prates was previously a member of the legal counsel of Petrobras International S.A. – Braspetro and Executive Director of Expetro Consultoria em Recursos Naturais Ltda, as well as Energy Secretary of the Rio Grande do Norte State Government.

As Senator of the Republic for Rio Grande do Norte between 2019 and 2023, he was a member of the college of leaders, and Leader in the Senate and in the National Congress. He was also President of the Parliamentary Front for Natural Resources and Energy and of the Brazil-Arab Countries Parliamentary Group.

“Jean Paul Prates was also the author of important legal frameworks involving energy transition and sustainable practices, such as the law regulating carbon capture and storage activities and the offshore energy law. In addition, he served as rapporteur of the Legal Framework for Railroads, the new laws on the production of biogas in landfills, and the new law on sustainable urban mobility,” Petrobras reported.

To remind, in December 2022, Petrobras reported that its CEO Caio Mário Paes de Andrade, who was appointed to the role in June 2022, accepted the invitation from Tarcísio de Freitas to be a member of the next São Paulo state government staff.

Due to the available vacancy, the Chairman of the board of directors nominated João Henrique Rittershaussen, Chief Production Development Officer, as interim CEO of the company, until the election and inauguration of a new CEO.

At that time, the Ministry of Mines and Energy sent a letter informing that Jean-Paul Terra Prates will be nominated for the CEO position and is expected to be nominated as a member of the firm’s board of directors.