Rabobank Australia & NZ country banking head moves on

Media Release October 16, 2012

Rabobank Australia & NZ country banking head appointed CEO of US Rabo AgriFinance

Rabobank Australia and New Zealand Group country banking division head Neil Dobbin has been appointed to run Rabobank’s United States agri banking business, Rabo Agri Finance (RAF).

Mr Dobbin – a veteran of 25 years with Rabobank in Australia and New Zealand, the past decade as group executive Country Banking Australia & New Zealand – has taken on the role of chief executive officer for RAF.

Announcing the appointment, Rabobank Group executive board member Berry Marttin said during Mr Dobbin’s stewardship of its Country Banking operations in Australia and New Zealand, Rabobank had grown to become the leading food and agribusiness bank in the region.

“The business that Neil has been instrumental in developing – from its early days as the Primary Industry Bank of Australia to its position now as the leading food and agri bank in Australia and New Zealand – is the model for Rabobank’s developing agricultural banking operations around the world,” Mr Marttin said. “In addition to the quality of the bank’s loan portfolio in Australia and New Zealand, the business has also developed an enviable reputation for its agribusiness expertise and client service.

“With the United States such an important future growth market for Rabobank, we are delighted that Neil is transferring his very considerable skills, expertise and experience in agricultural banking to RAF to assist this business in its future success and development.”

Headquartered in St Louis, Missouri, Rabo AgriFinance is one of the largest agricultural lenders in America. With offices throughout the United States, the business offers a comprehensive suite of agricultural financial services and crop insurance to farmers and ranchers.

Paying tribute to Neil Dobbin as ‘the father of country banking’ in Australia and New Zealand, Rabobank Australia & New Zealand CEO Thos Gieskes said Mr Dobbin’s US appointment demonstrated how highly valued his capabilities and achievements – and those of the local business – were internationally.

Mr Gieskes said Mr Dobbin would be greatly missed by his colleagues and the bank’s clients across Australia and New Zealand.

“We are fortunate though that we are not losing Neil from Rabobank and that the United States will now get to benefit from his wealth of experience and expertise,” he said.

Mr Gieskes said Mr Dobbin was leaving the Australian and New Zealand business in very capable hands, with his Group Executive Country Banking role to be taken over jointly by Peter Knoblanche in Australia and Ben Russell in New Zealand.

Mr Dobbin, who has served on the board of RAF for the past two years, said he was looking forward to the opportunity to now embrace a hands-on involvement growing the US business.

“Like Australia and New Zealand, the United States is a substantial food bowl with some two million farmers and great opportunities for the agricultural sector. And just like here, American farmers are sophisticated, they adhere to best practice and utilise the best technology available.

“American farmers have many of the same issues as Australians and New Zealanders, but also many of the same opportunities. It will be very exciting to be part of Rabobank and the sector’s growth in this part of the world.”

Rabobank Australia & 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 47 countries, servicing the needs of more than nine million clients worldwide through a network of more than 1600 offices and branches. Rabobank Australia & New Zealand is one of Australasia’s leading rural lenders and a significant provider of business and corporate banking and financial services to the region’s food and agribusiness sector. The bank has 93 branches throughout Australia and New Zealand.

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