Ecopetrol board set to name Joaquín Gutiérrez as new CEO

The board of directors of Ecopetrol met on Thursday, September 17, to select the company's new president. Joaquín Gutiérrez, a trusted adviser to President Abelardo de la Espriella, is set to take the position, with an official announcement expected from the state-controlled oil firm.

The leadership change comes two days after Ecopetrol's shareholder assembly replaced all members of the board of directors. The newly formed board subsequently elected Carlos Suárez, another adviser to De la Espriella, as its chairman.

Gutiérrez served as campaign strategist and campaign chief for De la Espriella. He holds a degree in business administration from Universidad del Norte and a specialization in healthcare management. While his background includes organizational management and private enterprise, he has no prior experience in the hydrocarbons sector.

Earlier in his career, Gutiérrez served as an adviser to Mario Iguarán at Colombia's Attorney General's Office. From 2006 to 2009, he worked as deputy manager at the law firm De La Espriella Lawyers. He is also the owner of Desarrolladora Salguero, a luxury real estate developer in Bogotá, and holds investments in the healthcare sector through the Santa Mónica clinic in Barranquilla.