Businesswoman and entrepreneur Isabel dos Santos was appointed chairwoman of Sonangol, Angola’s national oil company, in June 2016.

Ms. dos Santos holds a degree in engineering and management from King's College London. She has over 20 years of experience in top management positions at companies in core sectors of the economy, such as telecommunications, banking, retail, hospitality, industry and energy.

Ms. dos Santos has extensive academic knowledge and expertise in project management, marketing, telecommunications and human resources. Professionally, her work has focused on project development, mergers and acquisitions, business transformation processes, and corporate culture change management.

Throughout her professional career, Ms. dos Santos has been acknowledged for her entrepreneurial abilities. She has founded and developed several projects, including the definition and coordination of complex transformation processes and corporate restructurings. She has also founded and led several companies in Angola and in various European and African countries, while promoting professional development and ensuring opportunities for young local talent. She is the recipient of several national and international awards and honors in recognition of her efforts and commitment. She is frequently invited to speak at international conferences and has participated in numerous economic and African forums.

A native Portuguese speaker, Ms. dos Santos is also fluent in English, French, Spanish, Italian and Russian.