MARIA E. SANZ PEREZ IS EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT: GROUP Legal, Commercial and Governance of Johannesburg-based AngloGold Ashanti Ltd. Sanz was admitted as an attorney of the Supreme Court of South Africa after receiving her Bachelor of Laws from the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg and her bachelor’s degree in commerce, majoring in commercial law and economics, from the same university. Sanz holds a higher diploma in taxation from the University of Johannesburg and also completed a postgraduate course in sustainability leadership at the University of Cambridge, as well as the advanced management program at Harvard Business School.

Sanz was group head of legal and sustainability at Sappi Ltd. She also held various positions at African Oxygen Ltd (Afrox). Sanz was appointed GC of legal and commercial for Afrox, later becoming company secretary in addition to providing all legal services to Afrox Healthcare. She was also GC for the industrial and special products division of BOC plc, as part of her responsibilities, and was a member of BOC legal leadership team. Between 1993 and 1998, Sanz held legal advisory positions with Basil Read Holdings Ltd. and Investec Ltd. She joined AngloGold Ashanti in 2011.