Petróleo Brasileiro S/A - Petrobras, a Brazilian international energy company, announces that the following changes in its executive staff will be effective as of January 1st, 2007:
1. Alberto Guimarães, currently the General Executive Director of Petrobras Energia S.A., will become the President of Petrobras America Inc.;
2. Carlos Fontes, currently the Refining and Petrochemicals Director of Petrobras Energia S.A., will hold the position of General Executive Director of Petrobras Energia S.A.
3. Renato Bertani, currently the Managing Director of Petrobras America Inc., will serve as Executive Manager for the Americas, Africa and Eurasia at the international area at the company''s headquarters; and
4. João Carlos Figueira, currently Executive Manager for the Americas, Africa and Eurasia at the international area, will hold the position of Exploration and Production Director of Petrobras America Inc.
Alberto Guimarães is a career employee of the commercial area of Petrobras and has been the General Executive Director for Petrobras Energia S.A since 2002. During his term of office in that subsidiary, Petrobras'' position was consolidated in the important Argentine market. The company invested more than US$ 900 million, not only in existing operations, but also in new projects such as the expansion of the service station network, the introduction of podium gasoline in the Argentine market, the increase of the refining capacity at the San Lorenzo and Bahia Blanca units, and, recently, associated to Enersa, in the first steps of an ambitious offshore exploration plan in the Argentine Sea. Prior to his assignment to Argentina, he held several important positions in the company, including Executive Manager for New Business and Superintendent of the former Commercial Department.
Carlos Fontes, who has been in Argentina since 2004, is a career chemical engineer at Petrobras and has an MBA from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. Before he was assigned to Argentina he also held several outstanding positions, among others Products and Refining Processes Manager, Petrochemical Projects Manager, Petrochemical Executive Manager and President of Petroquisa.
Renato Tadeu Bertani is graduated in Geology from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul and holds a PhD in Geology from the University of Illinois, USA. He was hired by Petrobras in 1976 and has held several technical and managerial positions in Brazil and abroad, among others, exploration manager and general manager of the Potiguar Basin, in Rio Grande do Norte, new business manager and Exploration and Production director of the subsidiary Petrobras Internacional S.A. - Braspetro. Abroad, he was the general manager for Petrobras UK Limited. Since 2001, he has been the president of Petrobras America Inc, responsible for expanding the exploration and production activities and operations in the American sector of the Gulf of Mexico, as well as the refining and commercialization activities in the American market.
Geophysicist João Carlos Araújo Figueira graduated from the University of São Paulo and was hired by Petrobras in 1983. He has held several technical and managerial positions in the Company''s international activities. His experience abroad includes the United Kingdom and Angola, and he achieved the position of Exploration and Production Director of Petrobras Internacional – Braspetro, which was incorporated to Petrobras. He has been the executive manager of the Company''s International Area since it was created in 2000, where, as of August 2004, he became the executive manager for the Americas, Africa and Eurasia.
