Maria Ramos

Chair, Standard Chartered Bank; Former Chief Executive Officer, Absa Group

Maria Ramos is a prominent corporate leader and banker. She joined the board of Standard Chartered PLC and Standard Chartered Bank as an independent non-executive director in 2021 and became Chair in 2025. She also served on the board of Compagnie Financière Richemont SA. From 2019 to 2024, she was Chairman of AngloGold Ashanti, overseeing a major corporate restructuring. She has held leadership roles, including CEO of Absa Group (2009–2019) and CEO of Transnet (2004–2009). Ramos has been a director at various organizations, including PIC, SABB, and Sanlam, and has served on global advisory groups, such as the G20 Expert Group and the World Bank-IMF High-Level Advisory Group.

Her career has earned her numerous awards, including CNBC Africa Woman Leader of the Year (2011) and Businesswoman of the Year (SA Businesswomen’s Association, 2001). She is an honorary doctor and has served in academic and advisory roles globally. Ramos holds degrees from the University of the Witwatersrand and the University of London.