Maria Ramos is a corporate leader and banker. She was appointed to the board of Standard Chartered PLC and Standard Chartered Bank as an independent non-executive director in January 2021. She chairs the Board Risk Committees, is a member of the Audit and Remuneration Committees and was appointed Senior Independent Director in September 2022.
She serves as an independent non-executive director on the board of Compagnie Financière Richemont SA.
From December 2020 to May 2024, she was Chairman of AngloGold Ashanti Limited (AGA), having joined its board as an independent non-executive director in June 2019. Following a major and complex corporate restructuring AGA’s primary listing was moved from the JSE to the NYSE,headquarters to Denver, Colorado, and registered domicile to the UK. The restructuring required significant regulatory approvals and was designed to enhance the Group’s access to the world’s largest capital market.
Until December 2020, she served as independent non-executive director on the boards of the Public Investment Corporation (PIC), where she chaired the board Risk Committee and Saudi British Bank (SABB), where she chaired the Remuneration Committee.
Between March 2009 and February 2019, Ms Ramos served as Chief Executive Officer of Absa Group leading the Group through a number of significant milestones including the acquisition of the Barclays Africa subsidiary banks; the sell-down by Barclays PLC and setting a new strategy and refreshed brand for the bank.
Before joining Absa (previously Barclays Africa Group Limited) in March 2009, Ms Ramos was the Chief Executive of Transnet Limited for five years. This followed an eight-year tenure as director general of South Africa’s National Treasury (formerly the Department of Finance) during which time she played a crucial role in transforming the Treasury into one of the most effective and efficient state departments in the post-apartheid administration.
She has in the past served as an independent non-executive director on the boards of Sanlam Ltd, Remgro Ltd and SABMiller PLC.
