With her appointment, Petrobras’ Executive Board will have a female majority—an unprecedented composition in the company’s history
Petrobras’ Board of Directors elected engineer Angélica Garcia Cobas Laureano as Executive Director of Energy Transition and Sustainability this Friday, July 11. With Angélica’s appointment, Petrobras’ Executive Board will now consist of five women—including the company’s president—out of nine total members. This marks the first time in the company’s history that its senior leadership has more women than men.
Angélica Laureano brings 45 years of experience, including 37 at Petrobras, with 21 years in management roles. On the Executive Board, she joins directors Clarice Coppetti, Renata Baruzzi, Sylvia Anjos, and company president Magda Chambriard.
A Pioneer in Gender Equity
The new female-majority composition of Petrobras’ Executive Board reflects the company’s commitment to diversity and gender equity, reinforcing its leadership in the Brazilian market. The study “Women in Action,” published by B3 in September 2024, reveals that only 6% of the 359 companies listed on Brazil’s stock exchange have three or more women on their executive boards. In 59% of these companies, there is no female representation at all on the Executive Board.
“We are committed to increasing female participation across all areas of Petrobras because we believe diverse teams foster healthier, more productive workplaces. I hope we inspire more women to pursue leadership roles, especially in the oil and gas sector, which remains male-dominated,” said Petrobras President Magda Chambriard.
Energy Transition
Petrobras’ Executive Office of Energy Transition and Sustainability was created in April 2023 to consolidate and strengthen the company’s efforts in this area. The division oversees gas and energy processes, climate change, decarbonization, and renewable energy, while collaborating with other departments on research and development for transition-related projects.
“We will continue investing heavily in decarbonization projects, sustainable fuel production, and renewable energy diversification. As leaders in the energy transition, we reaffirm our commitment to achieving net-zero operational emissions by 2050,” said Angélica Laureano.
Angélica Laureano’s appointment followed Petrobras’ internal corporate governance protocols, including compliance and integrity evaluations required for the company’s succession process. Her term runs until 2027, aligning with other Executive Board members.
During her 37-year career at Petrobras, Angélica worked in Materials, Supply, Gas and Energy, and served as President of Gaspetro—a Petrobras subsidiary in partnership with Mitsui Gás S.A., managing stakes in 19 natural gas distribution companies across Brazil. After retiring from Petrobras, she consulted on natural gas projects and currently presides over Transportadora Brasileira Gasoduto Bolívia-Brasil S.A.
