Once collaboration
and teamwork are
the norm, the sky
will be the limit
Matthijs Mondria:
Matthijs Mondria
And because Rabobank is getting greater access to clients at board
level, Cuppen adds. "As Eric has pointed out, clients are much more
prepared to invite us to the table at an earlier stage in transactions.
That's where we should be, getting involved with clients on a
strategie level, where our combined sector and product know-how
can create tremendous value."
Of course, Hamming adds, this is not going to happen overnight. It
will take a lot of work, right up to Executive Board level, to convince
our people and our clients that we are fully behind this. "And we
will have to set an example, by showing in our own client-facing
activities that we are committed. And coaching our own people,
showing them that they really can do extraordinary things, by
bringing together the know-how from right across the bank."
One advantage we have, they agree, is that it is relatively easy to
convince clients that Rabobank will still be here in five years. But
much more importantly, they add, is the fact that Rabobank will be
the same bank in five years, or 10 years time. However, everyone
agrees that this will not be enough to emerge as winners from the
battle for the Dutch market, which is likely to take place over the
next two years. "Being the same bank in essence does not mean
that Rabobank can afford to stand still," says Els Kamphof. "Clients
need to see us as the bank that takes the lead, that is confident and
committed to this market and to them."
And the same goes for the talented people Rabobank will need in
the future, everybody agrees. Rabobank has long been an employer
of choice in the Netherlands, but never more so than right now.
"The quality of the graduates looking to join this bank has never
been higher. Rabobank is now a cool brand," Saris says. People
know they can grow with us, that we offer a much better long-term
perspective than our rivals, Hamming adds. "They really want to be
on the winning team. That's how they see us, and that is how we all
need to see ourselves. As part of a winning team!"
Matthijs Mondria
and Eric Saris
ISSUE 23 MAY 2010 RI WORLD 3 1
