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

Rabobank Bronnenarchief

blad 'RI The Word / The Word' (EN) | 2008 | | pagina 18