Maria Ramos

Last updated

Maria Ramos
Maria Ramos - World Economic Forum Annual Meeting Davos 2010 crop.jpg
Maria Ramos at the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, 2010
Born (1959-02-22) 22 February 1959 (age 65)
Lisbon, Portugal
NationalitySouth African, Portugal
Education Institute of Bankers
University of the Witwatersrand
University of London
Occupation(s)Businesswoman and banker
Years active1977-
TitleChair of AngloGold Ashanti
Term2020-
Spouse Trevor Manuel

Maria Ramos (born 1959) is a South African businesswoman, banker and corporate executive who has been serving the chairperson of AngloGold Ashanti since 2020. [1] She previously served as chief executive officer (CEO) of Absa Group Limited. Prior to joining Absa in March 2009, she was the CEO of Transnet. This was after serving as director-general of the National Treasury. [2]

Contents

Early life

Ramos was born in Lisbon, Portugal, on 22 February 1959, the oldest of four daughters. [3] Her parents emigrated to Mozambique and then South Africa in the mid-1960s. Ramos was six when her family began their new life in Vereeniging, south of Johannesburg. [4]

Ramos matriculated in 1977 and went to work for Barclays in Vereeniging as a waste clerk, which involved collecting paperwork such as deposit slips and cheques, from behind the tellers and manually processing them. [3]

Ramos applied for a scholarship under the bank's in-house scheme for employees to complete a university commerce degree, but discovered that it was open to men only. A long battle ensued until she was told that if she sat the basic exams and passed, she would be considered. She drove about 58 kilometres (36 mi) from Vereeniging to Johannesburg three nights a week after work to attend evening classes offered by the Institute of Bankers, passing the exam and earning a Banker's Diploma.[ citation needed ]

Academic life

Ramos has taught at various academic institutions. Ramos obtained an Institute of Bankers’ Diploma (CAIB) in 1983. She followed this with a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in 1986, a Bachelor of Commerce Honours in Economics (also from Wits) in 1987 and a Master of Science (Economics) from the University of London in 1992. [5] [6]

Career

Early in her career, Ramos served as Director-General of the National Treasury from 1996 to 2003. [6]

Ramos was the chief executive officer of Absa Group Limited for ten years, until February 2019. She held responsibility for executing the Group's strategy across 10 African operations, serving 15 million customers through more than 11,000 outlets. [6]

Prior to joining Absa as Group Chief Executive in March 2009, she was the Group Chief Executive of Transnet Limited, the state-owned freight transport and logistics service provider for five years.

In addition to her role at Absa, Ramos has in the past served as a non-executive and independent director on the boards of Sanlam Limited, Remgro Limited and SABMiller Plc, and currently serves on the board of Richemont SA. [6]

Other activities

Ramos has in the past served as chairperson of the Banking Association of South Africa. [6] Appointed by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, she co-chaired (alongside Achim Steiner) the United Nations' Task Force on Digital Financing of Sustainable Development Goals from 2018 to 2020. [7] In 2021, she was appointed to the World BankInternational Monetary Fund High-Level Advisory Group (HLAG) on Sustainable and Inclusive Recovery and Growth, co-chaired by Mari Pangestu, Ceyla Pazarbasioglu, and Nicholas Stern. [8]

Other roles include:

Recognition

Ramos is a recipient of honorary doctorates from the Stellenbosch and Free State universities. Ramos led Transnet through a massive financial, cultural and operational turnaround. During her tenure as Director-General of the National Treasury (formerly the Department of Finance), she played a key role in transforming the Treasury into one of the most effective and efficient state departments in the post-apartheid administration. [3]

She has successively been ranked in Fortune magazine's annual survey of the 50 most powerful women in business for a number of years running, having most recently been ranked 11th in the Europe, Middle East & Africa Region for 2015. [11]

Her contribution has been recognized through numerous awards. She was named CNBC Africa Woman Leader of the Year (2011), and was awarded the Wits Business School's Management Excellence Award (2010). She was named the Sunday Times Business Times Business Leader of the Year in 2005 and Businesswoman of the Year by the SA Businesswomen's Association in 2001. [3]

Personal life

Ramos married the South African politician Trevor Manuel in 2008. [3] This followed a period when Ramos was director general while Manuel was minister of finance and it was widely reported that the two were in a relationship at the time. [12]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Absa Group</span> South African banking conglomerate

Absa Group Limited, commonly known simply as Absa and formerly the Amalgamated Banks of South Africa (ABSA) until 2005 and Barclays Africa Group Limited until 2018, is a multinational banking and financial services conglomerate based in Johannesburg, South Africa and listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. It offers personal and business banking, credit cards, corporate and investment banking, wealth and investment management and bank assurances.

Samuel Esson Jonah is a Ghanaian businessman and the current chancellor of the University of Cape Coast. He is the executive chairman of Jonah Capital, an equity fund based in Johannesburg, South Africa. Jonah was previously president of AngloGold Ashanti and shared the strategic leadership of the company with its CEO, Bobby Godsell.

Portuguese South Africans are South Africans of Portuguese ancestry. The exact figure of how many people in South Africa are Portuguese or of Portuguese descent are not accurately known as many people who arrived during the pre-1994 era quickly assimilated into English and Afrikaner speaking South African communities. There was likely also an undercount of immigrants, especially from Madeira.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Absa Bank Uganda Limited</span> Commercial bank in Uganda

Absa Bank Uganda Limited, formerly known as Barclays Bank of Uganda Limited, is a commercial bank in Uganda. It is licensed by the Bank of Uganda, the central bank and national banking regulator. The bank is a subsidiary of Absa Group Limited, a financial services conglomerate, based in South Africa, with banking subsidiaries in 12 African countries and representative offices in two other African countries. Absa Bank Group, whose shares trade on the JSE Limited, was reported to have total assets in excess of US$91 billion, as of October 2019. 

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Absa Bank Kenya</span>

Absa Bank Kenya Plc, formerly Barclays Bank Kenya Limited, is a commercial bank in Kenya and a subsidiary of South Africa-based Absa Group Limited. It is licensed by the Central Bank of Kenya, the central bank and national banking regulator.

Wendy Elizabeth Lucas-Bull is a South African businesswoman, banker and corporate executive, who served as the chairperson of Absa Group, a large pan-African financial services group, with subsidiaries in Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. She retired from Absa on 31 March 2022.

Nomfundo Tshazibana, commonly known as Fundi Tshazibana, is a South African economist, who serves Deputy Governor of the South African Reserve Bank from 10 July 2019. Immediately prior to her appointment to that position, she served as an adviser to the Governor of the bank, since 10 February 2018.

Harriet-Ann Omobolanle (Bola) Adesola is the senior vice-chairman at Standard Chartered Bank Group where she was previously the CEO of Standard Chartered Bank for Nigeria and West Africa. Adesola has over 33 years of experience in the banking sector.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel Mminele</span> South African bank executive

Daniel Mminele was the chief executive officer (CEO) of Absa Group Limited, a financial services conglomerate, with headquarters in Johannesburg, South Africa, and subsidiaries in Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Absa Bank Mozambique</span> Mozambican commercial bank

Absa Bank Mozambique, formerly known as Barclays Bank Mozambique, is a commercial bank in Mozambique. It is licensed by the Bank of Mozambique, the central bank and national banking regulator.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Absa Bank Botswana</span> Commercial bank in Botswana

Absa Bank Botswana, formerly known as Barclays Bank of Botswana Limited, is a commercial bank in Botswana, licensed by the Bank of Botswana, the country's central bank and national banking regulator.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Absa Bank Mauritius</span> Commercial bank in Mauritius

Absa Bank Mauritius Limited (ABML), formerly known as Barclays Bank Mauritius Limited, is a commercial bank in Mauritius, licensed by the Bank of Mauritius, the country's central bank and national banking regulator.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Absa Bank</span> Commercial bank in South Africa

Absa Bank Limited, formerly known as the Amalgamated Banks of South Africa, is a commercial bank in South Africa and the flagship bank of Absa Group. It is licensed by the Reserve Bank of South Africa, the central bank and national banking regulator.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Absa Bank Ghana</span> Ghanaian commercial bank

Absa Bank Ghana (ABGL), formerly known as Barclays Bank of Ghana Limited, is a commercial bank in Ghana, licensed by the Bank of Ghana, the country's central bank and national banking regulator. ABGL is a subsidiary of Absa Group Limited, a financial services conglomerate, headquartered in South Africa, with subsidiaries in 12 African countries and with assets in excess of US$87 billion as of 30 June 2017. Absa Group's shares trade on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange under the symbol ABG.

Abena Osei-Poku,, is a Ghanaian corporate executive who is the Managing Director and Regional Executive for the Anglophone West Africa (AWA) Region of the Ecobank Group. She was the former managing director and chief executive officer of Absa Bank Ghana, where she served as the managing Director for five years since September 2018 to December 2023. Before that, she worked at Absa in South Africa, where she was responsible for the Corporate & Investment Banking in East and West Africa, at the level of Managing Director.

Saviour Chibiya, is a Zambian economist and corporate executive, who is the group executive for regional operations at Absa Group Limited, effective November 2021. In this position, he is a member of the group executive committee. He reports directly to the group CEO of Absa Group. He is based at the group headquarters, in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Bongiwe Gangeni, is a South African pharmacist, businesswoman and corporate executive, who is a designated corporate executive at Standard Chartered Bank, responsible for Africa, the Middle East and Europe. She starts her assignment in March 2022. She will be based in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates.

Jason Quinn is the chief executive officer (CEO) in acting capacity, of Absa Group Limited, a financial services conglomerate, with headquarters in Johannesburg, South Africa, and subsidiaries in eleven sub-Saharan countries. Prior to his current assignment, Jason was the chief financial officer of Absa Group Limited. In addition, he has been a member of the board of directors of the financial services conglomerate, since September 2016.

Arnold Rautenbach is the chief executive officer (CEO), of Absa Group Limited, a financial services conglomerate, with headquarters in Johannesburg, South Africa, and subsidiaries in eleven sub-Saharan countries. Prior to his current assignment, Rautenbach was the head of the bank group's retail and business banking (RBB) unit. He takes over from Jason Quinn, who was the interim CEO of Absa Group from April 2021 to March 2022. Jason Quinn resumed his role as Absa Group's Financial Director. Rautenbach's tenure as Group CEO of Absa Group started on 29 March 2022.

Matthews Sello Moloko is a South African businessman, banker and corporate executive, who serves as group chairman of Absa Group, a large pan-African financial services group, with subsidiaries in Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. He concurrently serves as the chairman and non-executive director of Absa Bank Limited, the South African subsidiary and the largest of the subsidiary banks of the Absa Group. He began his tenure at Absa on 1 April 2022. He is also the chairman of Telkom, the South African telecommunications conglomerate, since March 2019.

References

  1. Nqobile Dludla (8 December 2020), AngloGold Ashanti chair Pityana resigns, Maria Ramos to take over Reuters .
  2. Business Maverick (8 December 2020). "New job for Maria Ramos: Chair of AngloGold Ashanti". Johannesburg: Daily Maverick . Retrieved 11 November 2020.{{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Success Story Organization (2016). "Maria Ramos Story". Successstory.com. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  4. Globefeed.com (16 May 2018). "Distance between Johannesburg, South Africa and Vereeniging, South Africa". Globefeed.com. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  5. Barclays Africa Group (16 May 2018). "Barclays Africa Group: Executive Committee: Maria Ramos, Chief Executive Officer". Johannesburg: Barclays Africa Group . Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 One Young World (2013). "Maria Ramos: CEO, Barclays Africa Group Limited". London: Oneyoungworld.com. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  7. Task Force on Digital Financing of Sustainable Development Goals United Nations, press release of 29 November 2018.
  8. World Bank, IMF Launch High-Level Advisory Group on Sustainable and Inclusive Recovery and Growth International Monetary Fund, press release of 15 June 2021.
  9. BWC Announces Board of Directors, Global Advisory Council Bretton Woods Committee, press release of 12 October 2020.
  10. International Advisory Board: Maria Ramos Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford.
  11. Claire Groden (14 September 2015). "Most Powerful Women: Europe, Middle East, Africa: Maria Ramos: Group CEO, Barclays Africa Limited". Fortune.com . Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  12. Smith, Dianne (6 April 2001). "Manuel to divorce amid rumours of an affair". IOL. Archived from the original on 17 April 2023.
Preceded by
Mkwanazi, M.
Chief Executive Officer of Transnet
2004-2009
Succeeded by