Strategie challenges confront RI
in brief
contents
Rabobank
Getting acquainted
International
What's NewS in
the network
hat'sNewS
Monthly newsletter for Rabobank International fQf j flt€ YD QI US6 Otlly Issue 6 June 1999
As the dedicated strategie review team
considers options relating to our
future strategy and sourees of growth,
Maarten Hulshoff, the new CEO of
Rabobank International (RI), has moved
swiftly to implement immediate short
term measures to respond to a serious
backlog in RI's budgeted performance
targets. Initial measures unveiled in recent
weeks inelude a headcount freeze for the
JMini-Luroland comprised of London,
Utrecht, and head office, together with a
six-month moratorium on new business
initiatives and a 20 percent cut in travel
and entertainment expenditures. Meeting
with the entire staffs at Utrecht and in
London, Hulshoff has also presented a
frank assessment of the competitive
realities that prevail in the global financial
services industry - a sector marked by
quickening consolidation - and has
sketched out the strategie challenges that
confront RI. We need to reach a level of
efficiency that enables all of us to spend
as much time as possible out with the
customer, he says. The goal is to trans-
form RI into 'one of the most entre-
preneurial' of banks. To reach this goal,
Hulshoff says, RI will have to moderate
its spending pattern and engineer a far-
reaching improvement in management
information systems. We must continue
our evolution front the Dutch consensual
tradition towards the Anglo-Saxon model
of accountability, and also improve the
procedures of corporate governance.
'There is a shared perception that some-
thing needs to be done: that we need to
focus our strategy, clarify our immediate
objectives, and make decisions. These
challenges are now being addressed.'
Furtber developments on pages 3-4.
Hulshoff on defining our objectives
itelected employees new to
Rabobank International were
treated to a real insiders
view of the organization
in a special 'Introductory
Week' meeting orga-
nized by network deve-
lopment and support,
end of May. The 15
participants, nominated
trom various offices
around the world, spent
the first few days in
Utrecht before flying to
London for the conclu-
sion of the meeting.
Following introductions
at head office in the
Netherlands on subjects like
structure, cliënt focus strategy,
fcprporate banking and head
office functions, came a special
visit to member bank Gouderak
including presentations by their
Fltr - Josphine Chiu, Anjd Pater, Emily Sun, Jörg
Hoermann, Chris van Helleputte, Chan Kwang Jong,
Geert Berben, Wandy Riady, Damian Olech, Magda
Straczynska, Lynn Ng, Mari Toda, Candan Eksioglu,
Heitor Portugal, Mauricio Rojas, Cem Mengi
staff and being hosted further
by two clients. 'This visit
provided our participants with
grounds for comparison
between RI and a member
bank, and provided insight into
the roots of the Rabobank
organization,' said Anja Pater,
meeting organizer. 'We believe
this completed the picture of
the bank as a coope-
rative institution for
the new staff, which
was the original goal of
the meeting.' Partici
pants went to London
the second part of the
week, where the agen
da included presenta
tions from corporate
finanee and global
financial markets as
well as a networking
luncheon. Introductory
week, held for the first
time this year, has
traditionally been offered twice
a year in order that new staff
'become acquainted with
Rabobank and motivated by
the possibilities our specific
knowledge-driven network has
to offer,' explained Pater.
Hard times ahead
- devising solutions 3-4
Sustainable energy
- wind sector a breeze 5
Knowledge tools
- inputing expertise 6-7
Country profile
- Australian update 8-9
Centenary projects
- ongoing commitment 10-11
Talking heads
-Alain Younes speaks out 12