Rabobank appoints new leader

Rabobank has a new CEO, with Peter Knoblanche set to take the reins. He will also assume the role of Managing Director for the Rabobank Australia & New Zealand Group, taking over from outgoing CEO Thos Gieskes, who has served in these positions for six-and-a-half years.

The appointment will be effective from July 1, 2017, subject to regulatory approval.

Knoblanche has held the position of Deputy CEO for Rabobank Australia since August 2015 and has headed Rabobank's Australian rural banking operations for the past 10 years, most recently as Group Executive Country Banking Australia.

Rabobank Australia Chairman Bill Gurry says Knoblanche brings a world of experience with him to his new role.

"Not only is Peter one of the most experienced and highly-regarded agri banking executives in Australia, he has an extensive knowledge and understanding of Rabobank, our clients and the markets in which we operate," he says.

"During his 20 years with the bank thus far, Peter has had the opportunity to gain in-depth experience across the breadth of the business, working with our Country Banking farming clients as well as Wholesale corporate food and agribusiness clients and small to medium enterprises operating in the food and agri value chain.

"In addition, as part of the Rabobank's Group executive team, he has had exposure to both the RaboDirect retail deposits business and Rabobank's regional operations in New Zealand."

Prior to heading Rabobank's Australian Country Banking division, Knoblanche spent 10 years working with the bank in different areas including structured trade finance, corporate banking, structured commodity finance and commodity price risk management.

He has more than 30 years' experience in the Australian and international banking industry, having previously worked for HSBC (Australia and Hong Kong) and ANZ.

Knoblanche holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Wollongong and is a graduate of the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program. He is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

He says it was a "privilege" to take on the position of Australian CEO and regional Managing Director, and looks forward to continue building on Rabobank's international and local strengths in the food and agribusiness sector.

"I see a very bright future for what is already a successful agricultural industry in Australia and New Zealand, and it really is a privilege to be involved in this through an organisation like Rabobank, which has such a special and important role in supporting the food and agricultural sector both locally and globally," he says.

Gurry also thanked outgoing Australian CEO Thos Gieskes for his significant contribution in leading the Rabobank Australia & New Zealand Group through a "period of impressive growth in the bank's development in this region".

Prior to his role as CEO in Australia, Gieskes served as CEO in Rabobank Chile for seven years. He will be moving to the bank's head office in the Netherlands.

Gieskes says it had been a "wonderful experience and fantastic opportunity" to work with the Australian and New Zealand food and agribusiness sector over the past six years.

"Australian and New Zealand farmers and agribusinesses are undoubtedly among the very best in the world, and our agricultural production is rightly very highly valued and sought after for its quality and clean, green reputation," he says.

"I have no doubt agriculture here will continue to go from strength to strength in the years ahead as global demand grows and as the local sector pursues strategies to improve productivity and increase value-adding."

Knoblanche's replacement for the role of Group Executive Country Banking Australia will be announced at a later date.