Q.You were chairman of RI for seven years before moving to the executive
board. As an executive board member, you have had direct responsibility for
RI for long periods. Do you have a sense of deja vu now? Or is it more a
question of needing someone who is deeply familiar with both RI and the
merger process on this chair?
A. I think it helps that I have considerable experience with RI. But let's
be frank here. The international business currently handled by RI cannot be
compared to our business in the early 1990s when I was chairman. Rather, I
see the whole organization as having undergone an evolution which is still
ongoing. The challenge now is to work consistently towards building DGRI as
the first component in the multi-domestic concept. We're looking at a unique
opportunity here to create a powerful European cooperative financial group.
What I really want to see is a secure and strong position for DGRI in that
overall concept. That will give us an equally competitive position in
European markets. So, in answer to your question: is this deja vu? Then no,
this is about making something happen that has never happened before.
Q. Last week, Hans Smits also announced the acceleration of the merger
process. What does that mean for RI?
A. There is quite extensive coverage of the latest developments on the
merger in the current issue of What's NewS - all that information is
relevant to the process and outlines the timeframe. But we have speeded up
one very important aspect. If we are to move the merger along, then we need
to get our agreements and plans down on paper. Initially, the idea was to
sign an umbrella contract with DG Bank by year-end. We've accelerated that
now to the third quarter. I see a significant part of my present role as
preparing RI for integration into the joint venture. A number of major steps
have already been taken, such as the acquisition by DG Bank of a 50% stake
in Rabo Securities. A start has also been made on the integration of our two
international networks. These are all very positive and significant steps
towards our goal of having DGRI up and running by mid-2002.
The June/July issue of What's NewS had already gone into distribution when
changes in management of RI were announced last week. WNS will carry a full
interview with Rik van Slingelandt next issue.
