Ecopetrol president Juan Carlos Hurtado resigns amid controversy

Juan Carlos Hurtado has resigned as the acting president of Ecopetrol, the Colombian state-owned oil company. Camilo Barco, the current financial vice president, will assume the role of acting president starting Tuesday, September 15.

Hurtado’s departure follows the emergence of a controversial audio recording involving conversations between himself, Catalan businessman Manel Grau, and a contractor identified as “Víctor.” The recording allegedly discusses potential million-dollar contracts, appointments to positions within Ecopetrol, and business dealings related to Venezuela. The audio also mentions the influence of certain individuals in securing vice presidency positions.

This leadership change occurs as Ecopetrol prepares for an extraordinary shareholders' assembly. The meeting is scheduled to address critical matters, including the restructuring of the Board of Directors and a proposed reform to Article 20 of the company's statutes. The reform aims to ensure that new candidate shortlists for the Board include at least three members from the previous organization to maintain continuity.