UPDATE 1-Absa to appoint Ramos as CEO -industry source

* Ramos to replace Steve Booysen - source

* Absa to hold news conference

(Adds details)

JOHANNESBURG, Nov 21 (Reuters) - South Africa's biggest retail bank Absa Group Ltd (ASAJ.J) will announce the appointment of Maria Ramos as chief executive on Friday, a financial industry source said.

"Yes she is," the source said when asked about a media report that Ramos, named among the world's 50 most powerful businesswomen by Fortune, was about to be named CEO of the bank.

Absa called a news conference for Friday afternoon after Ramos announced she was quitting her job has CEO of South Africa's state-owned rail and logistics group Transnet [TRAN.UL].

Absa is majority owned by Britain's Barclays (BARC.L). (Reporting by Marius Bosch; Editing by Rebecca Harrison)