From SINPRO we see with great concern how in this administration there have been repetitive changes in the EPM structure and appointments that affect the transparency and the rigors that have characterized our company.

In addition to the cases that we have made public, we now warn about the latest moves: the appointment of the new Vice Presidents of Legal Affairs, Jonathan Villada Palacio, and from Human Talent, Juliana Carolina Zapata Molina; the appointment of two advisers for the new manager of Afinia; the settlement of the new IT structure attached to the Vice Presidency of New Businesses, Innovation and Technology; and that of the Identity management, attached to the Vice Presidency of Communications.

SINPRO President Olga Lucia Arango

Historically, we have asked EPM for an administrative structure in accordance with institutional principles and technical rigors, leaving no fissures for politicking, bureaucracy, nepotism, cronyism and corruption. For example, in 2018 after the contingency of the Hidroituango project, we delivered a proposal for contribution to the sustainability of EPM, including the optimization of the structure.

In 2020, during the administration of the first of four EPM managers in 20 months—something never seen in 66 years—we warned about the fairness of appointments to high positions of managers and advisers, who did not correspond to the tradition of a company like EPM. With the new management’s arrival and with the approval of the board of directors, this practice did not change. On the contrary, it has become more evident, without shame.

A few months ago, and without questioning their possible academic merits, we warned about the appointments of the General Secretary, María Cristina Toro, and the vice presidents of Finance and Investments, Martha Durán, and Communications, Mabel López, upon the impression that quotas of politicians related to the government of Medellin were being filled.

The next step was the creation of the Administrative Management Department in the General Secretariat, despite the existence of the Administrative Support assigned to Supply Chain and Shared Services.

Mr. Manager and members of the board, you have underestimated these alerts, which we launched on the retirement of about twenty workers of all levels brought through extreme pressure and to which people of retirement age have also been subjected.

Last week Medellín’s municipally owned multinational utility conglomerate EPM (Empresas Públicas de Medellín) announced the appointment of Juliana Carolina Zapata Molina (right) to the position of Vice President of Human Talent and Organizational Development, and Jhonatan Estiven Villada Palacio (above) as Vice President of Legal Affairs.

Palacio has held legal positions in Medellín’s mayoral office, and has been advisor to several companies on contracting, labor and public administrative law, says the utility in a statement. He also has taught at the University of Medellín in the Faculty of Economic and Administrative Sciences and at the Faculty of Law with an emphasis on state contracting, and at the Santo Tomás University in the Faculty of International Business.

Zapata is a civil engineer with experience leading strategic plans, knowledge management, training and academic processes and managing processes for the development of human talent and labor relations, says EPM.

She has held positions such as: manager of planning and knowledge management at the National Association of Public Services and Communications Companies (Andesco) and manager of corporate human resources and BSO at Cemex Colombia, among others.