Appointed as the new Petrobras CEO, former minister Pedro Parente said leadership roles at Brazil's state-run oil company will not be filled through political appointments. According to him, this is a “clear direction” he received from Brazil's interim President Michel Temer.

According to Parente, the ban on political appointments will make Petrobras executives' and his own job easier. “That was one of the points that weighed into my decision [to accept the invitation to head Petrobras].” He said whether he will maintain or replace the current board members is still open. “This is at the discretion of the chief executive. Petrobras's governance mechanisms will function as they should at any large company. I may appoint new board members or recommend terminations. That's just the ordinary.”

Commending the current management, Parente said the guideline is continuing to improve Petrobras's governance to make it strictly professional. “The government's relationship to Petrobras is as a controlling stakeholder. That's how Temer sees it and that's how I see it myself, and that's what should guide our job. We'll take a strictly professional approach, devoted to the best interests of the company and its stakeholders,” he said.

“I am aware of my responsibilities. I know from the press that a divestment program is in place at Petrobras. We should certainly reconsider if we will go on with it. I can't give further details,” he said about the possibility of selling Petrobras assets.

Parente must be approved by Petrobras's board of directors before he can take over.