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Maria Ramos

Group Chair

Maria Ramos

Appointed

Maria Ramos was appointed as Group Chair of Standard Chartered PLC in May 2025.

She was previously appointed as an independent non-executive director of Standard Chartered PLC and to the Court of Standard Chartered Bank in January 2021. She was appointed as Senior Independent Director of Standard Chartered PLC in September 2022, stepping down prior to becoming Group Chair in 2025.

Board committee membership

Experience

Maria is a seasoned leader and former banker, with a wealth of experience from leadership positions within the private sector and government. She has extensive international non-executive and Chair experience as well as a deep understanding of operating across emerging and developing markets. Maria has extensive CEO, banking, commercial, financial, policy and international experience.

Career

Maria served as chief executive officer of ABSA Group Limited (previously Barclays Africa Group) from 2009 to 2019. Before joining ABSA, Maria was the group chief executive of Transnet Ltd for five years. Prior to her CEO career, Maria served for seven years as director-general of South Africa’s National Treasury.

Maria has served on several boards, including Sanlam Ltd, Remgro Ltd, The Public Investment Corporation as well as ABSA Group Limited; she has also served on several international boards including SABMiller plc, Saudi British Bank and was Chair of AngloGold Ashanti PLC until May 2024. She was also a non-executive director of Compagnie Financière Richemont SA before stepping down in March 2025.

External appointments