Ecopetrol's Board of Directors approved president Ricardo Roa Barragán's vacation and unpaid leave request on Tuesday, appointing vice president Juan Carlos Hurtado as interim leader. The decision came in an extraordinary session on April 6. Hurtado took office on April 7 through May 27, extending with the leave.
Ecopetrol's Board of Directors, in an extraordinary session on April 6, 2026, approved Ricardo Roa Barragán's request for legal vacation recognition from April 7 to May 27, and a 30-day unpaid leave starting May 28, per the company's statutes.
Juan Carlos Hurtado, current Executive Vice President of Hydrocarbons since November 16, 2025, and first alternate to the president, assumed the interim presidency on April 7. An Electrical Engineer with an MBA in International Oil and Gas Business Administration, Hurtado has 28 years of sector experience, including roles at Ecopetrol as Vice President of Exploration, Development and Production, and at Transportadora de Gas Internacional (TGI).
Ecopetrol's stock dropped 1.46% that day, trading at $2,695 on the Colombia Stock Exchange and US$14.64 on Wall Street, after opening up 1.28%. Gregorio Gandini of Gandini Análisis criticized the move for undermining credibility in corporate governance and annoying minority investors.
Martín Ravelo, president of Ecopetrol's Unión Sindical Obrera (USO), voiced calm over the Board's autonomous decision despite prior pressures from shareholders and workers who had considered a strike. "We are calm with the independent decision of the Board of Directors," Ravelo said, praising Hurtado's profile. The company stated it will continue its business strategy and appoint a temporary replacement for Hurtado's vice presidency.
