Biography
Maria Pernas is member of the Group Executive Committee at Capgemini, a global leader in consulting, digital transformation, technology and engineering services, with annual revenues of €23 billion and more than 350,000 employees worldwide. Reporting directly to the Group CEO, Maria leads the Legal and Commercial and Contract Management Functions, overseeing almost 800 professionals.
Maria has built a reputation for innovative strategic thinking, unwavering focus on growth, operational performance and competitiveness and has a successful track record of implementing major transformation programs. Maria brings solutions aligned with the business needs, combining a solid technical expertise with agility and a strong client focus. Passionate about technology and ESG, Maria set up the Technology and the Sustainability Legal and CCM Accelerators and she currently chairs the Capgemini Generative AI Cross-Functional Board.
With solid people management skills, Maria creates an environment that prioritizes talent attraction and retention, fosters inclusivity and diversity and promotes employee growth and wellbeing.
Maria sits on the Board of Directors of the European Association for Women in Leadership. She is Vice-President and ESG Lead of the Cercle Montesquieu and former Vice President of the Association of Corporate Counsel Europe (world's largest community of in-house counsels). She has served as Company Secretary and member of the Board of Directors of companies in Europe, the United States and Africa.
In 2023, Maria was selected for the TOP 100 Women Leaders Ranking in Spain (Top 10 Leaders Abroad category) and she was also recognized by the Financial Times as one of the Top 20 In-House Legal Leaders.
In 2006, she received the Award Manager of the Year (Mujer Joven Directiva) granted by the Spanish Federation of Women Leaders (FEDEPE). In 2018 she was recognized as one of the TOP 50 Inspiring Women Lawyers.
Maria has 25 years of experience in managerial positions in large multinational corporations in numerous jurisdictions. After a successful career as Vice-President in Madrid and Rome, in 2018 Maria moved to Paris, first as Deputy Group General Counsel and then as Senior Vice-President, Group General Counsel, Operations, and Group Diversity Program Manager at Atos. She joined Capgemini in 2017 and is a member of the Group Acquisitions and Review Boards.
Maria is member of the Madrid Bar Association and graduated from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
Maria lives in Paris, she is married and has one child.