With Petrobras CEO calling it quits, former general director of ANP prepares to step in

Brazil’s state-owned oil and gas giant Petrobras is on the brink of getting a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), following a request from its current one, which called for the company’s board of directors to consider his early termination.

In addition to stepping down as CEO, Petrobras disclosed on May 14, 2024, that Jean Paul Terra Prates also notified the company of his intention to quit being a member of its board of directors, subject to the approval of his early termination.

During a recent energy conference in Houston, United States, the outgoing CEO stated that oil and gas are integral parts of the energy transition, which needs to happen gradually and responsibly, highlighting the role of local energy sources in reducing emissions.

In the wake of Prates’ desire to step down from the CEO role, Petrobras shared that the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) has nominated Magda Maria de Regina Chambriard as his successor for both positions in an official letter. Her appointment is subject to internal corporate governance procedures and an evaluation by the people committee and the board of directors.

Chambriard holds a Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering and a degree in Civil Engineering, specializing in reservoir engineering and formation evaluation, coupled with oil and gas production.

Her career at Petrobras started in 1980. In 2002, she was assigned to the Brazilian National Agency for Petroleum, Natural Gas, and Biofuels (ANP) as advisor to the Exploration and Production Directorate. Six years later, she assumed the position of Director at ANP, moving on to become General Director in 2012. 

In line with net zero goals set out in its ‘Strategic Plan 2024–2028’, the oil and gas major recently celebrated a 41% reduction in operational absolute greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions between 2015 and 2023.

Furthermore, the company claims that suppliers of 14 floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) vessels it plans to start up in the next five years will need to offer and implement solutions aligned with its decarbonization targets.