in the network
new faces
2 What'sNewS Issue 3- March 1999
Prices not so FA R-out
'Team Up' wraps up
Skilling-up administration
For a number of years food and
agribusiness research (FAR) has been
selling itself short. That is to say,
published market studies have been sold
to external parties such as non-clients,
universities, consultants and competitors,
under comparable market price. The main
purpose of these studies is to act as a
knowledge tooi for relationship
management and to enter into
sector/industry focused discussions with
existing and potential clients in order to
explore the possibilities of bringing new
or improved financial solutions. For these
purposes, as well as to establish our
position as a knowledge driven F&A
bank, prices were kept low. As of January
11999, prices of newly-published market
studies will increase to USD 500 or the
euro equivalent for external parties only,
to reflect the value of the products they
are receiving. Internal prices for market
studies remain the same at NLG 75 (or
euro equivalent). This relatively low price
allows branches to order market studies
for clients, thus increasing customer
value. It goes without saying, studies
should be ordered and that no copies
should be made. To obtain internal
reports free of charge, please contact
Martha van den Berg of FAR (tel. +31 30
216 1178, fax+31 30 216 1920). For
market studies contact marketing R1 (tel.
+31 30 216 2804, fax +31 30 216 1976).
After five months of concerted effort
from the 25 participating teams
networkwide, the centenary-driven
computer simulation game 'Team Up'
Client panel judging 'Team Up'winners
has come to an end. Overall winner
demonstrating the most outstanding
business management style was New
York's corporate banking team. In line
with customer focus, a cliënt panel
made up of Utrecht-based experts from
the transport and logistics industry
chose two further winners, with first
cliënt prize going to Viva Duta 1 from
Indonesia and second prize going to
Utrecht's trade services team. According
to 'Team Up' organizer Aniek Asjes,
'the simulation game has stimulated
network building and knowledge
sharing. Everybody involved had a lot
of fun. It was the perfect opportunity
for Rabobankers to see things from our
client's perspective, as well as to get to
know one another, vital elements in
celebrating last year's centenary.' In an
overall centenary evaluation, managing
board recognized that the theme of
'teamplay for the future' exceded all
expectations. Both employees and
customers became more aware of the
unique identity and social responsibility
of our cooperative organization. The
challenge now remains to keep that
momentum going.
Henri Jacquand (left)
was appointed general
manager of our Paris
Branch in November of
1998. His career began
at Citibank in New York.
As a memberofthe
international staff, he
was assigned to a
number of positions in Europe, Latin America
and the Middte East before becoming general
manager of Citibank in Paris. Jacquand
subsequently returned to New York as head of
structured finance. He comes to us from his
recent post at Compagnie Financière du CIC et
de l'Union Européen, where he headed global
corporate banking. 'Rabobank is truly a first
class global bank, which has clearly defined its
strengths and its goals, 'Jacquand says. 'The
challenge is to make it happen - to translate
these ideas into specific action plans, business
by business, dient by dient.'
Under the auspices of new managing
board member responsible for
administration activities Alain Younes, a
group of some 20 project managers
came together in the Netherlands early
March. The training program
represented the first global initiative
involving participants from five of the
main RI offices (Hong Kong, Singapore,
New York, Utrecht and London). The
session was primarily devised to
encourage knowledge sharing with a
strong emphasis on enhancing project
management skills covering both
technical and human angles. This was
essentially achieved through action
orientation. 'It is one thing to explain
theories,' says program organizer Mieke
Groenewegen, 'but it is quite something
different to make them happen. And we
have long recognized the need to put
administration's knowledge sharing
practices into action.' The training
program was so well received that this
initial pilot program is set to become a
regular feature for administration.
Masthead
Editorial Staff
Coordination Mirjam Diepenbrock, Marketing RI
Managing Editor Anne Lavelle (The Write Company)
Editors David Brown, Samantha Dobson, Lisa Petrie
Distribution Len Fraser
Editorial Address
Rabobank International Marketing, UC B652
P.O.Box 17100, 3500 HG Utrecht
Telephone +31 (0)30 216 2433
Telefax +31 (0)30 216 1976
Rabomail whats news^rn.rabobank.nl
Design the write company, Amsterdam
Lithography Zetterij Niek van Dijk, Amsterdam
Printing Drukkerij Cliteur bv, Amsterdam
Please send address changes to the editorial address
