Ecopetrol removes its legal head and restructures management

Ecopetrol announced changes to its senior leadership on September 30, 2026. Through a relevant information filing, the Colombian state oil company stated that Cristina Toro Restrepo, Corporate Legal Vice President and General Secretary, concluded her duties that day by mutual agreement. The company thanked Toro for her leadership and achievements.

Starting October 1, 2026, Silvia Restrepo García, Manager of Corporate and Governance Affairs, takes over as interim head of the Corporate Legal Vice Presidency. Ecopetrol also reported that Mónica Jiménez González will step in as Legal Vice President and General Secretary by October 6, 2026, also serving as the company president's third alternate.

The reshuffle under Ecopetrol President Joaquín Gutiérrez includes naming Camilo Andrés Rojas Castro as Administrative Vice President of Services and Mauricio Gutiérrez Dangond as Vice President of Strategy and New Business. Toro had joined Ecopetrol in April 2024 as Legal Vice President before her promotion in February 2025, after previously serving as General Secretary of Empresas Públicas de Medellín.

The transition occurs amid political and legal scrutiny. Alejandro De Bedout, President of the Medellín City Council, stated that the departure is an internal cleanup of officials linked to former Medellín mayor Daniel Quintero and former Ecopetrol president Ricardo Roa. In addition, former Ecopetrol Compliance Director Alberto Vergara had recently criticized Toro's oversight of internal disciplinary and legal actions against him following his reports on alleged corporate wrongdoing.