23 April 2007
Rabobank has announced the appointment of Justin Harrison as state manager for its rural business in Queensland and the Northern Territory.
Mr Harrison, who is currently regional manager for Southern Queensland for Rabobank, will take up the position on May 16.
The world's leading food and agribusiness bank, Rabobank is one of Australia's largest rural lenders and a significant provider of corporate and business banking services to the Australian food and agribusiness sector.
The bank is one of the leading lenders to rural Queensland.
Announcing the appointment, Rabobank general manager Rural Australia, Peter Knoblanche said Mr Harrison had played a key part in the success of Rabobank's Queensland business during his four years with the bank.
"Justin has made a significant contribution to the Queensland business and has been instrumental in its continued strong growth in the region. He has been a great asset to the bank and I'm very confident in his ability to lead the business in Queensland forward," Mr Knoblanche said.
Mr Harrison will replace Ian MacGibbon who has been with Rabobank since 2002 and held the role of state manager for the rural business for the past three years. Mr MacGibbon leaves at the end of May to concentrate on his farming and business interests.
Mr Knoblanche said Mr MacGibbon had made a substantial contribution to the bank, most notably in his last three years as rural state manager for Queensland and the Northern Territory.
"The business that Ian has set in place has enormous strength. To Ian's credit, the team that he has established is made up of highly capable and motivated people who have the skills to continue to lead the Queensland and Northern Territory business forward. We wish him well in this new chapter of his life," Mr Knoblanche said.
Mr MacGibbon said he had found his past three years as rural state manager enormously satisfying, but felt the time was right to pursue his own business interests.
"It has been an extremely enjoyable three years for me leading the rural business in Queensland and the Northern Territory. Rabobank has a unique culture that is both client focused and knowledge driven. It is very fulfilling to work with people who are focused on growing the business by fostering these points of difference," Mr MacGibbon said.
"I feel that with Rabobank in Queensland and the Northern Territory in an extremely strong position, the time is right for me to pursue my personal business ventures. I feel very confident that Rabobank will continue its strong growth under Justin's leadership," he said.
Mr Harrison has 18 years experience in the agricultural banking sector, joining the Agricultural Bank in 1989 following five years as a lecturer at the Australian Agricultural College Corporation, Burdekin Campus.
Mr Harrison joined Rabobank in Queensland in 2003, opening a new branch in Dalby on the Darling Downs. He continues to operate his own farming enterprise.
Rabobank Australia 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 banks by Global Finance magazine. The bank operates in 43 countries, servicing the needs of more than nine million clients worldwide through a network of more than 1500 offices and branches. Rabobank Australia is one of Australia's leading rural lenders and a significant provider of business and corporate banking and financial services to the Australian food and agribusiness sector. The bank has 46 branch locations throughout Australia .
Contact
For further information please contact Denise Shaw, Public Relations Manager (Tel: +61 2 8233 8744) or email on sydney.pr@rabobank.com.