Angélica Garcia Cobas Laureano has been appointed as the new Executive Director of Energy Transition and Sustainability at Petrobras, marking a key moment not only for the company’s clean energy ambitions but also its commitment to gender diversity at the highest level of leadership.
She replaces former Chief Energy Transition and Sustainability Officer, Mauricio Tolmasquim.
Angélica Garcia Cobas Laureano’s career
With a career spanning 45 years – including 37 years at Petrobras and 21 in leadership roles – Angélica brings a profound depth of experience to her new position.
Her tenure at Petrobras includes work across Materials, Downstream, Gas and Energy sectors. She served as President of Gaspetro, a Petrobras subsidiary in partnership with Mitsui Gás S.A., where she managed interests in 19 natural gas distributors across Brazil. Angélica consulted on natural gas projects before taking on the presidency at Transportadora Brasileira Gasoduto Bolívia-Brasil SA, a role she held up to her appointment as Executive Director at Petrobras.
Her operational and strategic expertise, especially in the gas sector, aligns with her new responsibilities, which encompass driving decarbonisation, advancing renewables and progressing towards Petrobras’ net zero 2050 goal.
Gender equality at Petrobras
Angélica’s election signals a shift in Petrobras’ leadership dynamic.
As of July 2025, the Executive Board comprises five women and four men, ushering in the first female-majority executive team in the company’s history. This change sets Petrobras apart from most major energy companies in Brazil and globally, highlighting rapid progress in gender representation.
“We are committed to increasing female participation in all sectors of Petrobras because we believe that the workplace is healthier and more productive when there is diversity on the team,” says Magda Chambriard, CEO of Petrobras.
“I hope we can inspire other women to pursue leadership positions, especially in the oil and gas sector, which is still predominantly male,”
Sustainability at Petrobras
Under Angélica’s stewardship, Petrobras is reinforcing its commitment to sustainability. The company has set ambitious decarbonisation targets, aiming for net zero operational emissions by 2050 and investing heavily in a range of low-carbon initiatives.
Over the next five years, Petrobras will commit US$16.3bn – representing a 42% increase from prior plans – towards renewable energy, carbon capture and storage (CCUS), hydrogen production and biofuels.
The company’s sustainability push is characterised by both technological innovation and ecosystem restoration.
Petrobras is constructing biorefining plants for sustainable aviation kerosene (SAF) and renewable diesel, piloting advanced carbon capture technologies on offshore platforms and investing in the ProFloresta+ programme, which targets large-scale restoration of Amazonian landscapes.
Mauricio Tolmasquim’s legacy
Angélica takes over from Mauricio Tolmasquim, who served as Chief Energy Transition and Sustainability Officer from May 2023 to May 2025. Mauricio played an instrumental role in defining and implementing Petrobras’ energy transition agenda. With a technical background – a master’s degree in Energy Planning Engineering and prior high-level roles including President of the Energy Research Company (EPE) and Executive Secretary of the Ministry of Mines and Energy – he helped structure Petrobras’ current approach to decarbonisation, investment in renewables and long-term energy strategy.
Petrobras’ latest leadership change marks not just a new chapter in its decarbonisation journey, but also a landmark for diversity in the global oil and gas industry – proving that progress on sustainability and gender equity can, and should, go hand in hand.
By Charlie King
Source: sustainabilitymag.com
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