Ecopetrol dismisses four officials linked to political figures

Ecopetrol is restructuring its personnel with the departure of four officials directly or indirectly linked to the political sector of petrismo. The dismissals follow broader state reforms introduced under the government of Abelardo De La Espriella. Some of the affected employees had spent several years in their roles, predating the prior leftist administration.

Among the departures is Leonardo Luis Ávila Martínez, brother of Green Alliance Senator Ariel Ávila. He worked as a level 17 digital operations professional in the Science, Technology, and Innovation Vice Presidency earning roughly 542 million pesos, and his exit remains in progress due to union immunity. Another notified official is the son-in-law of former Foreign Minister Noemí Sanín, who served as general manager of Madrid-based unit Ecopetrol Ventures S.L. on an estimated salary of 157,970 euros.

The company also terminated the contract of Velásquez Gil, a level 21 lawyer who served as legal manager of hydrocarbons with severance paid unilaterally. Velásquez Gil held board seats at Ecopetrol Costa Afuera Colombia and Ecopetrol USA, and joined the board of Brazil's Brava Energía in August 2026 after Ecopetrol acquired a 51% stake for about 1.2 billion dollars.

The staff changes also affected a commercial support analyst at the trading subsidiary in the United States who served for one year, five months, and twenty-nine days, costing 113,000 to 130,000 dollars annually. Additionally, a territorial management professional hired in June 2025 under former president Ricardo Roa departed after holding a role outside the technical scope of the oil industry.