"AS A BABY I USED
TO STAY WITH MY
GRANDPARENTS AND
LITERALLY SLEPT ON
THE BANK'S SAFE"
In my first few years, I worked in structured finance - a dynamic
and intellectually challenging world - where I learned about
the complexity of international financial structuring. Afterthat, I
spent some years in the dealing room, first in derivative sales and
then as head of bank capital. In this position, I helped to develop
Rabobank's membercertificates. My last position was head of a
department in the Special Management Division".
3 What ties you to the Rabobank?
"Perhaps the connection is deeply rooted. My grandfather was
a cashier at the local farm credit bank in Beers (the Netherlands)
and for a long time the bank's safe was in the living room of
his farm. When my father took over the farm, my grandparents
moved to the house above the bank building that had mean-
while been built in the village. As a baby, I used to stay with my
grandparents and literally slept on the bank's safe. Not exactly
fed in with mother's milk but still.
4 What does a Global Head Corporate Finance do?
"I manage three international product lines, those being the
global Structured Finance and Leveraged Finance and the cur-
rently regionally-organised Project Finance. All three operate
in markets at a different stage of their lives. Structured Finance
is a mature activity in a difficult and continuously changing
environment. Creativity and innovation are important elements
here. Leveraged Finance - financing acquisitions by private
equity parties - is an activity that is growing steadily worldwide,
although currently affected somewhat by the turmoil in the
international financial markets. The Project Finance department
is currently converted into Renewable Energy Infrastructure
Finance, focusing on the markets for renewable energy and
clean technology. These markets have major growth potential.
We look for example at the financing of sustainable energy pro
duction from wind, solar energy and biomass sources".
5 What are the great pleasures in your job?
'The variety, the intellectual challenges. And of course, the fact
that I can manage successful and innovative business units that
actively contribute to the bank's overall success. Everything we
achieve is a result of teamwork. I owe success to many".
6 What is the most distinctive about your work terrain?
'The speed at which markets change. Early this year, for instance,
the credit market was very aggressive and overheated. In June
and July it all cooled down. It is at such moments that you have to
know your portfolio really well and have the right information to
be able to judge the risks and take the right decisions. The team
did a great job in adapting to the changing environment".
7 Your work is spread across the world. How do you remain
informed about everything?
"With 150 people in 10 countries you cannot accurately follow
everything that is happening. But my management team keeps
me effectively posted about all key developments taking place
at clients, new transactions, financial performance and the port
folio's risk status".
8 To what extent is Rabobank International still a
Dutch company?
"Although Rabobank International is in many countries around
the world, Dutch people still form a majority. I'm not sure
whether the Dutch have become more international or that the
international have Dutch habits. If the Dutch entrepreneurial and
trading spirit are the Dutch signature of the bank internationally,
it is not so bad to be seen as a Dutch bank".
9 Which countries currently have your greatest attention?
"I don't manage by country as many of our business activities
cross numerous national borders. With Corporate Finance, we
mainly operate in the more mature financial markets such as
Western Europe, the US, Asia and Australia".
10 What are your ambitions for the near future?
"I hope Corporate Finance will contribute substantially to the
result of Rabobank International and thus the Rabobank Group.
I believe we will succeed provided we continuously combine
our skills and expertise within the bank in new ways to create
innovative and profitable propositions for our clients. Corporate
Finance is certainly making contributions to creating an attrac-
tive working environment for ambitious people who want to do
pioneering work worldwide".
ISSUE 15 JANUARY 2008 THE WORD 1 7
