Q. If there is to be a Group Treasury, why are some capital markets
activities which are currently part of RI being transferred?
A. Not one single decision over which activities are corporate or RI have been taken. As I
said, we will be consulting and involving RI people and the RI board and working closely
with Control Rabobank Group in the project which will be launched in the
very near future. I sent out invitations today with the objective to come - in an open
process - to conclusions latest September. It will be a different process in view of
complexities for example in administration. But we have very many competent people
who will certainly create solid solutions for viable business lines. We also seek the advice
of Uwe Flach of DG in this. Of course it is a Rabobank Group matter but given the
impact of the decisions on DGRII want him to be involved.
We need a transparant process in which every party is convinced that their interest are
taken seriously.
Q. You mention the board of RI, how do you see your role there? Is running
RI and moving the merger along a temporary responsibility as an executive
Board member? Or will you be taking on the day-to-day business and strategie
development as well?
A. Fm here for the duration. And the duration means that I'm committed to
achieving DGRI, to promoting and moving ahead the integration process. Clear
enough? In terms of strategy, little will change in the sense that food and
agribusiness remains the main focus at RI. I think the work done in
Scheveningen at the end of June is a clear indication of that focus. What we
all need is more clarity on developments in RI capital markets activities.
We need that in the very near term.
Q. And the day-to-day running of RI?
A. Yes, I see that as an integral part of what I will be doing.
Q. How do you see what is perhaps best described as RFs pre-merger
future?
A. How about business as usual? There is so much talk and speculation around
at present, I wonder whether people have lost sight of what we're all here
for. We have to do everything we can to focus on our customers and improve
the services we offer to them. That has always been - or should have been -
the driving force behind RI. Mergers are typically times when you have to
focus even more on customers, you have to reassure them, retain their
confidence. That's what we should be concentrating on. The numbers we're
generating this year are very promising. Let's use that motivation to make
sure our customers are getting the best. That's how I see our mandate in the
pre-merger period.
