This a very positive
development with
exciting challenges
for the IT&OPS
organisation 9
Ralf Dekker is Chief Operating Officer
for RI Wholesale and Retail. What are his
expectations of the neiv governing structure
Ralf Dekker:
Ralf Dekker
Connections
Human resources
"From both an IT and an operational (IT&OPS) perspective, the
new organisational setup creates more clarity. In many cases,
wholesale and retail have different IT&OPS requirements, even
though they share the same technical infrastructure."
"A more global view on wholesale ultimately allows greater
leveraging of global IT&OPS solutions, thus further enhancing
effective and efficiënt structures. A specific focus on inter
national retail will similarly boost synergies between our various
retail operations around the world. I consider this a very
positive development with exciting challenges for the IT&OPS
organisation."
Sipko Schat explains. "We will be able to
recoup these costs more quickly if we can
also offer the products to retail clients,
where the volumes are higher."
The operations of Wholesale and
International Retail are closely related: they
operate in the same F&A value chain, make
use of essentially the same support staff
and, perhaps most importantly, as integral
elements of Rabobank International they
both convey the same values. A question
the reorganisation therefore raises is
whether creating two divisions with
their own management teams does
not undermine the strength of the
well-oiled team as it currently stands.
'This is not the case," Berry Marttin says.
"It's important to emphasise that this
operation does not imply an unravelling
of any of the basic positions or duties. We
certainly aren't planning to develop
two Rabobank Internationals. On the
contrary, the new structure will enhance
Rabobank International as a whole. It will
do more justice to both Wholesale and
International Retail. We will ensure that
both businesses will work collaboratively
to create more value for clients. Also,
the matrix model will be retained for
all positions. In the first place, all the
Wholesale business lines will be managed
globally, with more specific management
at regional or local level. In addition, the
support functions will continue to assist
both Wholesale and International Retail."
Another question that might follow is
what the consequences of the organi
sational restructuring are for Rabobank
International's employees? "Other
than the additional management team
appointments, the new structure will
have a limited impact on human resources,"
according to Berry Marttin. In other words,
the objective is to achieve a fundamental
improvement: we are not implementing a
simple cost-cutting programme. "We intend,
above all, to offer more opportunities to
Rabobank International's employees,"
Sipko Schat adds, "and not just more
opportunities to create additional value
for clients and be of greater assistance to
colleagues, but also more opportunities
to acquire new experiences, develop
new competencies and provide access
to senior positions. We need all your help
to achieve our objectives.'a
issue 21 ocioetR THE WORD
