Ana Maria Diniz
Academic Board Member

Ana Maria Diniz is an expert in corporate governance and family-owned business practices. For 11 years she co-managed her family company, Companhia Brasileira de Distribuição (CBD)/Pão de Açúcar, leading a major turnaround of the company, and transforming it into the largest retail group in Latin America with a U$ 5 billion turnover.

Ana Maria was a key player in the restructuring process of Grupo Pão de Açúcar and led a fundamental cultural change in the company, involving higher focus on innovation, increased ownership and accountability. Also, in charge of more than 60.000 employees, Ana Maria gained tremendous expertise in leading people from diverse cultural backgrounds.
After many years in an executive role, Ana Maria became board member at CBD and played a central role in implementing a new Corporate Governance model at the company. Today she is an active member of IBGC, Instituto Brasileiro de Governança Corporativa (Brazilian Institute of Corporate Governance ).

As one of the most important opinion leaders in Brazil for social responsibility issues, Ana Maria is an active board member of three government social councils. She is also President of Pão de Açúcar Institute of Human Development, a non-profitable organization focused on the education of children and young adults. She was distinguished by the World Economic Forum as "Global Leader for Tomorrow" and obtained a medal for "Cultural Merit" from the Secretary of Culture of Brazil and was selected as "Entrepreneurial Leader" by the national newspaper Gazeta Mercantil.

Ana Maria has a Licenciatura in Business Administration with specialization in Marketing from the Armando Álvares Penteado University in Sao Paulo, Brazil. She has recently completed a Leadership and Administration course at Harvard Business School, and a Cooperative Governing course at INSEAD in France.
In her spare time Ana likes practicing sports such as running, tennis, squash and yoga. She also loves music, and plays the guitar with her children on the weekends. She believes the discipline she gains from sports improves her performance in the business field, just as the sensibility stimulated by music brings her a special touch when she is with a client. These are for Ana Maria significant activities in keeping a balanced and harmonious life.

Ana Maria’s unique knowledge about Family Business Companies and Corporate Governance, her tremendous business expertise and her enormous sensibility in human development bring a distinctive touch to her public presentations.