In China we talk of
our 2020 strategy.
You really neeato look
thatfar ahead
BUS SS
Sander Pruijs:
the client's chair and think 'How does our
cliënt look at us?' They are looking at the
financial sector, which is in disarray, and
are undoubtedly asking themselves 'why
should we bank with Rabobank, and what
can we expect from them?' Do we only offer
financing? No, it's a great deal more than
that. We are equipped to provide clients with
payments, M&A, GFM, hedging products,
research, advice, investment opportunities,
and so on. That's the view that we need
to take in Asia. And, by default and not by
design, we have to take it right now. I believe
if we can get that urgency across, and make
people see that there are opportunities out
there, we will be able to act decisively.
"However, we need to be careful that
entrepreneurship and independence don't
spill into lack of focus. It's that fine line that
cuts right across what we should be doing
and should not be doing. That's where the
lessons from the past sit - right on that
dividing line. And again, I think that the
sense of urgency is now so great that we
will stay on the right side of that line, and
grasp the client-driven opportunities. Clients
are looking around and saying 'the banks
I used to deal with, I can no longer deal with.'
Those are the opportunities we have to
seize."
ISSUE 19 APRIL
THE WORD 19