‘I’m not an office leader’, says the first Brazilian CEO of Anglo American – 03/03/2024 – Market

The tone and way of speaking of Ana Cristina Sanches Noronha, 47, betray her personality from Minas Gerais.

“If you were here, we would have a cup of coffee and eat some cheese bread”, she tells Sheetwhile lamenting the video interview.

Born in Belo Horizonte, the executive assumed the presidency of Anglo American in Brazil in December last year. The British conglomerate is one of the largest mining companies in the world. A woman had never held the position.

“I’m the first, but I don’t want to be the only one”, she says.

Graduated in economics from UFMG (Federal University of Minas Gerais) and in accounting sciences from Fumec (Fundação Mineira de Educação e Cultura), she has 26 years of experience in finance, auditing, strategic planning and new business development. She also has taken executive education courses at Harvard Business School, Columbia University and the London School of Economics.

At Anglo American for 12 years, Ana Sanches was financial director in the technical, sustainability, projects and development areas in London.

As president, he takes over a company that generates 12 thousand direct and indirect jobs, with planned investments of R$12 billion in Brazil by 2027. Anglo American plans to reduce the emission of gases that contribute to the greenhouse effect by 30% by 2030 in its iron ore (Minas-Rio) and nickel (Codemin and Barro Alto).

But Ana wants to be remembered as an executive who likes to wear a uniform, go to communities where mining camps are located and talk to people.

“That’s where the opportunities lie,” he assures.

What has it been like returning to Brazil after almost three years at Anglo American headquarters in London?
It’s good to be back. My entire career has always involved a lot of traveling. I started as a consultant at Arthur Andersen. I’ve always traveled all over Brazil.

Does being the first woman place an even greater responsibility than already exists in commanding the Brazilian division of one of the largest mining companies in the world?
I’m the first, but I don’t want to be the only one. I want more women, I want more and more diversity. I see enormous value in diversity and believe in its power.

I keep this desire for transformation within me. I feel a great openness at Anglo American to take advantage of ideas. It is always with the collective that we win.

What I think is the coolest thing about this walk is that it is joint. It’s not a dispute. It is the strength of the collective.

There are just over two months as CEO. How has it been so far?
Before going to London, I was a financial director in Brazil. My time in London really opened up my scope to see everything from different perspectives.

It’s been really cool. I can do what I love most, which is being with people. I’m interested in knowing how different areas are doing, listening to people, going to operations, taking off that executive outfit and going to that environment. See how they live.

This contact with people makes me understand my leadership and the positive impact it can have on them and the communities.

I receive this with great humility. I have to absorb all of this and it is extremely enriching.

A Mining in Brazil suffered shocks in public opinion after the tragedies of Brumadinho and Samarco, among others. Although none of them involved Anglo American, do you see your role as improving people’s perception of mining companies?
We have a job to be increasingly active and attentive in communication. We are open to raising awareness in society regarding the role of mining.

We need to be open to telling our stories, helping people understand what mining is and how we do it responsibly.

We have values ​​that guide us, we have the purpose of using mining to change people’s lives. This has to be embedded in small, medium and large decisions. Don’t just talk about it. It’s the way we work and that’s why I’m here. I truly believe this.

We are proud to say that we recently received the IRMA 75 quality standard, which is the highest in mining. We are the only iron ore and nickel operations in the world [a receberem a certificação].

When I see this as a leader of this institution, I see that we have to continue with our humility. Keep listening, understanding. It’s a signage.

Mrs. mentioned how contact with people has a positive impact. Does this mean going to the cities where Anglo American mines?
That’s where the opportunities lie. That’s where ideas come and that’s where everything happens. Ideas become sharper. And I will.

We hit the road, take a plane, go to Barro Alto (BA), Niquelândia (GO), Conceição do Mato Dentro (MG). My strategic vision is sharp and as a leader I can understand the needs [da região] and enhance [os resultados].

Can you give an example of understanding the needs of the region or transformative actions?
We launched a voluntary relocation program in 2017. I wanted to visit the families [antes] and returned after resettlement.

It’s difficult to describe the housing conditions before, the very few resources, the dirt floor… We then see the house built by us, which respects that family and when sometimes it is necessary to teach the housewife how to clean a porcelain flooring because I had never had that before.

When we live that experience, we see what was before and what was after… To understand this, you have to put on a uniform, a helmet and go out and discover it.

These are experiences that we see in practice and transform us. The leader needs to have this sensitivity and perception. I’m not an office leader. That’s not Ana.

What is the future scenario you see for mining?

It’s such a cyclical sector… What sets us apart is the resilience to go through different cycles and guarantee our continuity, the delivery of commitments.

In commodities, we are impacted by large movements. China is a great thermometer even though it is not our main consumer market.

We cannot lose focus and the opportunity to be more efficient. We must implement discipline in operations, regardless of economic cycles. Gain that muscle that allows us to go through the cycles.

Anglo American announced Two weeks ago, an agreement was reached to acquire and integrate, into Minas-Rio’s assets, Vale’s iron ore resources in Serra da Serpentina (MG). What will this add to your company’s operations?
It is a beautiful opportunity for our iron ore business and to extend operations. These are resources [de minério de ferro] very significant, with a content of 40%, higher than what we have, which is 32%. And the characteristics [do minério] they are much more suitable for what our plant can receive.

We extend our resources because there are other ores that are much more difficult to process. Mining is a long-term thing. We are always thinking ahead.

We always want high quality ore, which are well received by customers. By content [de 40%]is very positive in that sense.

Does it also expand production capacity?
We have the possibility of increasing our capacity. There are 16.5 million tons per year of nominal capacity, but we believe we can reach 31 million tons today. We will look at the possibility of even doubling our production capacity.

It was one of the first announcements made after Mrs. assumed the presidency. When did the negotiations start?
This negotiation with Vale began a year or two ago and the conversations matured. They have intensified in recent times and we have obtained approval from the boards of both companies and the Anglo American headquarters in London.

We see this as something very positive for us, for Vale and for the entire region of Conceição do Mato Dentro (MG), which is beautiful and where we have been for a few years.

Having two mining companies operating there at the same time would be more challenging. I see it as something beneficial for the region.

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X-ray

Ana Sanches, 47
With a degree in economics and accounting, she began her career at Arthur Andersen, an international auditing company. She was hired by Anglo American 12 years ago, where she held different positions in South America and at the conglomerate’s headquarters in London. At the end of last year, she was chosen to preside over the mining company in Brazil