Petrobras names new Chief Sustainability Officer

Brazilian oil company Petrobras has named Angélica Laureano as its new Chief Sustainability Officer, shifting the gender balance of its executive leadership team.

The company announced in May that its long-serving Chief Energy Transition and Sustainability Officer Mauricio Tolmasquim would be leaving to join the board of Brazilian utility Eletrobras.

William França, Chief Industrial Processes and Products Officer, took on the CSO responsibilities in the interim, but Petrobras has now selected a permanent replacement for Tolmasquim.

Laureano, originally an engineer, has spent her entire career in Brazil’s oil and gas sector, in positions ranging from business development and marketing to non-executive director.

She is also a Petrobras veteran, with more than 37 years of experience at the company. 

“We will continue to invest significantly in decarbonisation projects, in the production of more sustainable fuels and in the diversification of renewable energy sources,” Laureano said upon announcing her new position.

Petrobras energy transition goals

She also reiterated the company’s commitment to achieve net zero operational emissions by 2050.

Despite this goal, Petrobras’ 2050 plans include increasing oil and gas production and “constant efforts to replace reserves”.

To offset the emissions of its expanded oil production, Petrobras is investing in carbon credits – including a US$77 million programme to restore degraded Amazon rainforest areas and capture 15 million tonnes of CO2.

In April, Petrobras shareholders also approved the inclusion of carbon capture and storage (CCS) activities in the company’s articles of incorporation.

By the end of this year, Petrobras aims to have reinjected 80 million tonnes of CO2 in CCS projects, and the capture, storage and utilisation of CO2 may soon become another business segment for the oil and gas giant.

Gender composition of Petrobras’ executive team

By appointing a woman in the CSO role, Petrobras has shifted the gender composition of its executive leadership team – which is now made of five women and four men. Other female executives include Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Clarice Coppetti, Engineering, Technology and Innovation Director Renata Baruzzi, Exploration and Production Director Sylvia Anjos and President Magda Chambriard.

“We are committed to increasing women’s participation in all of Petrobras’ departments because we believe the work atmosphere is healthier and more productive when there is team diversity. I hope we can inspire more women to aim for leadership positions, especially in the oil and gas sector, which is still male-dominated,” Chambriard commented.