International
Services
to enjoy
new
perspectives
Rabobank's prestigious Amphora project is past
its preparatory phase.The International Services
Department is now in its formal set-up process
within Rabobank International, lts primary aim?
Optimising international services for the local
member banks. The current status is detailed
by Chris Abbenhuis, Director of International
Services, and Mark Pereira, Manager of
International Desks.
18 ISSUE 15 JANUARY 2008 THE WORD
TEXT Leo Alexander Schlangen PHOTOGRAPHY Ingmar Timmer
Before Amphora, Mark Pereira (38) was head of business manage
ment in Rabobank's Financial Logistics Department. Prior tothis,
he also worked at Rabobank, Effectenbank Stroeve and Berenschot
consultants, where he was a senior management consultant for
over three years. He studied business economics at the Erasmus
University in Rotterdam.
Nine months ago, the go ahead was given for Amphora. Ampho
ra is an ambitious Rabobank International project within which
the International Services Department will implement a series of
improvements to our international proposition for internation-
ally active Dutch clients. Preparatory and build-up phases have
now been carried out and the formal start date is just around the
corner. Chris Abbenhuis is strapped into the driving seat.
Amphora was launched to reflect the ambitions of local Rabobank
offices in being able to serve business clients operating abroad
better. It is an area in which Rabobank still must improve in order
to match offers made by their competitors. Mark Pereira, Manag
er of International Desks of International Services, was involved
in Amphora from the start. He outlines the discrepancy between
the activities of Rabobank in the Netherlands and outside the
country. "Of the 300,000 companies active internationally in the
Netherlands, some 150,000 do business with Rabobank. This
means we're the market leader. Every year, approximately 2,600
of these companies undertake one or more major business
initiatives abroad, such as the setting up of a production centre
or the purchase of an ownership interest. And what do we see?
Justa small numberofthose companies call on usto helpthem
with their foreign business affairs. Thus there is a large difference