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

Rabobank Bronnenarchief

blad 'RI World' (EN) | 2011 | | pagina 11