Founded in 1998, the world’s third largest gold miner AngloGold Ashanti was created through the initial consolidation of the gold mining interests of Anglo American and the subsequent merger between AngloGold and Ashanti Goldfields in 2004. With a cross-border remit spanning the company’s 19 operations located in nine countries across Latin America and Africa, Ria Sanz distinguishes herself through her long standing in-house legal experience at the company, having first joined in 2011 after successful tenures in other senior legal roles in South Africa.

Sanz is admired by peers for not only her legal and commercial nous, but her ability to confront a range of issues that arise thanks to the complex and volatile nature of natural resources markets. Sanz will be vitally important in achieving the company’s upcoming business goals as it aims to promote a variety of efficiency drives in the face of difficult market circumstances, including through the sale of some of its South African mine assets in a series of high value transactions.