Maria Ramos served as the CEO of Absa for a decade, with the bank seeing a series of leadership changes since her departure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ramos became the CEO of Absa, Barclays Africa Group Limited at the time, in March 2009 and was responsible for managing the group’s operations across 13 African countries while serving over 15 million customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ramos remained CEO after London-based Barclays PLC reduced its shareholding in the bank to 14.9% in late 2017, which saw the group change its name back to Absa in 2018.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before joining Absa, Ramos had several roles in the public sector. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
She served as the Director General of National Treasury from 1996 to 2003.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She then served as the CEO of state-owned freight transport and logistics service Transnet for five years until taking the reins at Absa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During her time in the Treasury, she played a key role in turning it into one of the most efficient state departments in the post-Apartheid administration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Her time at Transnet saw a massive financial, cultural and operational turnaround, something which the SOE is in dire need of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She had a completed academic background, having obtained an Institute of Bankers’ Diploma (CAIB) in 1983.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She then received a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in 1986, a Bachelor of Commerce Honours in Economics from Wits in 1987 and a Master of Science in Economics from the University of London in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She also holds Honorary Doctorates from the Stellenbosch and Free State Universities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On top of her academic awards, she was also named CNBC Africa Women Leader of the Year (2011), was awarded the Wits Business School’s Management Excellence Award (2010), and was named Sunday Times Business Business Leader of the Year in 2005.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After stepping down from Absa, she became AngloGold Ashanti’s chairperson in 2020. She did not stand for reelection in May of this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the past, she has also served on the boards of Sanlam, Remgro and SABMiller.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ramos currently serves on the board of Johan Rupert’s Richemont.<\/p>\n\n\n\n