Rabobank appoints new head of Food & Agri Research

February 7, 2012

Rabobank appoints new head of Food & Agri Research

Rabobank has announced the appointment of Luke Chandler to the position of general manager of its Food & Agribusiness Research and Advisory division in New Zealand and Australia.

Mr Chandler has returned from a three-year posting in Rabobank’s London office, establishing and heading the bank’s global Agri Commodity Markets Research team, to take on the new appointment.

Mr Chandler will also retain his international role as global head of Agri Commodity Markets Research, responsible for managing the bank’s analysis and outlook for the world’s major agri commodities markets.

Announcing the appointment, Rabobank Group Executive Wholesale Banking Paul Beiboer said Mr Chandler’s hybrid local/international role was “a reflection of how highly Luke’s expertise in food and agricultural commodities markets is valued by Rabobank throughout the world”.

“We are fortunate to have someone of Luke’s experience in, and knowledge of, global soft commodities markets to run our local food and agri markets research and advisory team,” he said.

“Luke’s continuing central involvement in international agri commodities markets, combined with his strong local knowledge, adds even further to the strength of expertise in food and agriculture that Rabobank is able to provide to our clients in New Zealand and Australia.”

The world’s leading food and agribusiness bank, Rabobank is one of New Zealand and Australia’s largest rural banks and a major provider of corporate financial services to the region’s food and agribusiness sector.

The Food & Agribusiness Research and Advisory (FAR) team is a dedicated unit within the bank which undertakes research into the food and agribusiness sectors for the benefit of Rabobank’s clients, including comprehensive world-class reports on sector and commodity outlooks, latest market trends and future industry developments.

The local FAR team – of eight specialist agricultural commodities research analysts in New Zealand and Australia – is part of a global network of approximately 80 research analysts across the bank.

As general manager of FAR Australia and New Zealand, Mr Chandler replaces Justin Sherrard, who has moved to Rabobank’s global head office in the Netherlands to take on the role of global strategist Renewable Resources.

Prior to moving to London, Mr Chandler worked as a senior analyst in rural economics and commodities for Rabobank Australia and New Zealand, based in Sydney.

His previous roles include manager of Analysis at AWB (Australian Wheat Board).

Mr Chandler – who hails from rural northern New South Wales – holds a Bachelor of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Master of Economics from the University of New England.

Rabobank New Zealand is a part of the international Rabobank Group, the world’s leading specialist in food and agribusiness banking. Rabobank has more than 110 years’ experience providing customised banking and finance solutions to businesses involved in all aspects of food and agribusiness. Rabobank is structured as a cooperative and operates in 48 countries, servicing the needs of approximately 10 million clients worldwide through a network of close to 1600 offices and branches. Rabobank New Zealand is one of the country's leading rural lenders and a significant provider of business and corporate banking and financial services to the New Zealand food and agribusiness sector. The bank has 32 branches throughout New Zealand.

ENDS

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