Rabobank Appoints Air New Zealand Chairman to Australasian Board 
 
 
14 December 2004

Rabobank Australia & New Zealand has announced the appointment of leading New Zealand businessman John Palmer to its board of directors.

 

Mr Palmer, the chairman of Air New Zealand, joins the boards of two of Rabobank's major Australasian operating entities, Rabobank Australia Limited and Rabo Australia Limited.

 

Announcing the appointment, Rabobank Australia & New Zealand chairman James Graham said Mr Palmer's extensive background in both the agribusiness and financial services industries made him an ideal appointment to the Rabobank board.

 

The world's leading food and agribusiness bank, Rabobank is one of Australasia's largest rural lenders and a significant provider of corporate and business banking services to the region's food and agribusiness sector.

 

Mr Palmer chaired New Zealand's largest rural services company Wrightson Limited for six years until June this year and has wide-ranging experience in the horticulture industry. He is chairman of Nelson Fruit Services and Fruit Logistics (Nelson), holds directorships with Cold Storage Nelson and Saxton Fruit and led the New Zealand Kiwifruit Marketing Board from the crisis of 1992 through to the successful formation of Zespri International.

 

Mr Palmer is a director of AMP Life and a former director of Trustbank New Zealand.

 

Mr Graham said Mr Palmer also brought strong knowledge of the general New Zealand business environment to Rabobank's Australasian board.

 

"John is one of New Zealand's most respected business leaders and has an unrivalled track record at the helm of a number of the country's leading corporations," he said.

 

Retiring from Rabobank Australia & New Zealand's board are long-time directors Michael Davidson and Ian Langdon. Both will retire on December 31.

 

Mr Graham paid tribute to the great contribution Dr Davidson and Mr Langdon had made over an extensive period of time.

 

"Both Michael and Ian have played key roles in helping to guide Rabobank through a period of enormous growth and development in the Australian and New Zealand markets. Their practical knowledge of Australia's agricultural and agribusiness markets has been of great significance in the bank's substantial growth."

 

The other directors of the Australasian board are - James Graham (chairman), Erich Fraunschiel, David Smithers, Rik van Slingelandt (Rabobank International chairman), Wouter Kolff (Rabobank International deputy chairman), Bruce Dick (Rabobank Australia/New Zealand CEO) and Andrew Davis (Rabobank Australia/New Zealand deputy CEO).

 

Rabobank Australia & New Zealand is a part of the international Rabobank Group, the world's leading specialist in food and agribusiness banking. Rabobank has more than 100 years' experience providing customised banking and finance solutions to businesses involved in all aspects of food and agribusiness. Rabobank is ranked one of the world's safest bank by Global Finance magazine. Rabobank operates in 35 countries, servicing the needs of more than nine million clients worldwide through a network of more than 1900 offices and branches. Rabobank is one of Australasia's leading rural lenders and a significant provider of business and corporate banking and financial services to the food and agribusiness sector. The bank has 70 branches throughout Australia and New Zealand.

 

For further information please contact Janet Skilton (Tel: +64 4 462 5650) or please email wellington.pr@rabobank.com.