4 In New Yorkdecisions
are made faster. People are
really focused on results 9
LIFE IN ADAY
A life in the day of Marcel Veltrop (29), Vice-President,
Renewable Energy Infrastructure Finance at Rabobank International New York
'Getting things done'
"The New York office of the Renewable
Energy Infrastructure Finance (REIF)
department opened in July 2009.1 came
over from Utrecht to set up the department
with two American colleagues. We
developed the procedures,
wrote a business plan and are
working hard to extend our circle
of clients. There are now about
seven people working here and
we receive support from REIF
Credit Analysis and REIF Support.
There is no doubt that people
work hard here in New York.
They definitely work longer
hours than in Europe. I generally
start work at around 8 a.m., after a
fifteen-minute walk to the office. I
live locally and only take the
metro if it rains. I usually stop
working at around 8 p.m„ but we
sometimes workthrough until
midnight or even at the weekend if
we need to complete an im
portant deal. It means working
around sixty hours a week.
This morning, my fïrst appoint-
ment was at 10 a.m., with a
major developer in search of
investors for a wind farm
project. We often see these
kinds of clients visiting New
York. They come to the city to
do a tour of the different banks.
We got to know each other, had
a look at the plans and we will
now investigate what we can do
for him. I fly out to Florida this
afternoon. I am visiting a building
site for a biomass combustion
plant. In the evening, I will be joining a cliënt
for dinner before returning to New York
tomorrow. My work is usually based at our
offices on Park Avenue in Manhattan. Many
of the meetings take place via conference
calls. For example, we do a lot of work with
lawyers based in California and our clients
are spread across the country. But
occasionally I have to take a plane. Just
last week, I attended a wind conference in
Los Angeles.
As in the rest of the world, the development
of renewable energy projects still calls for
government support here in the U.S. Europe
already has slightly more experience in this,
but the United States is one of the leading
countries when it comes to the production
of renewable energy. This figure is expected
to grow even further. What I find
remarkable here is the time it takes for
transactions to be agreed: it takes much
less time than in Europe. Decisions are
made faster. People are really
focused on results. It is all about
getting things done. You learn
remarkably quickly in this pressure
cooker.
Moving to New York was not a major
step for me. American culture is very
similar to that in the Netherlands.
Of course, there are differences.
Hierarchy is more important in
America, and people are very
focused on their own responsibilities.
That is great, as it can make
processes more efficiënt, but it's also
something you need to get used to.
Irrespective of their responsibilities,
Dutch people are much more likely
to ask themselves why things are
being done in the way they are
being done. In the Netherlands, we
are accustomed to expressing our
opinion more readily, regardless of
the level or position of the other
person. I have also learned to
become less modest in how I
present myself. Here in New York,
everyone has a one-minute pitch, a
brief summary of what they stand
for. In that respect, we are much
more reticent in the Netherlands.
I intend to stay here for a while. Who
knows what will happen then? But
this experience is something that
will stay with me forever. Abroad,
you can learn, do and see so much.
You develop personal skills. It really is a
unique opportunity. That's something that I
experience afresh every single day. It still
always feels like an extraordinary privilege to
be walking to work every day along 5th
Avenue."»
ISSUE 28 AUC
RI WORLD