SAO PAULO, (Reuters) – Brazilian state-run oil firm Petrobras announced on Thursday that its board of directors had elected Jose Mauro Coelho to be the company’s chief executive. His term is for a year.

Coelho will take over from Joaquim Silvi e Luna, a retired general in the army, and is expected to be in office on Thursday.

Coelho was elected to the company’s board of directors by the company. This allows Coelho, the former government technocrat, to become the head of the corporation. Under Petrobras’ Statutes, the chief executive must also be on the board in order to be elected.

Coelho was previously the secretary for oil, gas, and biofuels at Brazil’s Mines and Energy Ministry. He was appointed earlier this month, after Adriano Pires, an energy consultant, resigned.