Ecuadorean state-run oil company Petroecuador named Maria Elisa Soledispa as its interim general manager on Feb. 11, according to a government statement, making her the first woman to lead the company in its history. It comes the day after the former chief, Hugo Aguiar, resigned after his home was searched by the attorney general's office in a corruption probe.

Soledispa, who most recently served as Petroecuador's marketing manager, was named in an extraordinary session and will be subject to checks, the statement said.

It added that in due course, three individuals will be presented as candidates to take over on a longer term basis.

The country's Energy Minister Fernando Santos told Reuters by phone on Feb. 10 that the plan was to "name an interim (chief) so we can calmly look at the profile for a definitive replacement."

According to a ministry handout, Soledispa is an engineer and has 12 years of experience in the oil sector.