Rabobank Australia & NZ announces new board appointment

December 5, 2011

Rabobank Australia & New Zealand announces new board appointment

Rabobank Australia & New Zealand has announced the appointment of Anne Brennan to its board of directors.

Ms Brennan, a respected company director with extensive executive experience, joins the boards of Rabobank Australia & New Zealand’s major operating entities – Rabobank Australia Limited, Rabo Australia Limited and Rabobank New Zealand Limited.

The local arm of the world’s leading food and agribusiness bank, Rabobank Australia & New Zealand is one of Australasia’s largest rural banks and a significant provider of corporate and business banking services to the region’s food and agribusiness sectors. It also operates online savings and investment service RaboDirect.

Announcing the appointment, Rabobank Australia & New Zealand chairman Bill Gurry said Ms Brennan’s solid financial competencies and strong track record in a broad range of corporate roles made her a great asset for Rabobank’s board.

“We are delighted to welcome a person of Anne’s capability and skill set to the board. She brings an exceptional amount of knowledge and expertise in financial management, as well as considerable experience across a range of disciplines and industries, including financial services and agriculture,” he said. “Anne has worked in a range of senior management roles across areas including audit, risk management, treasury, tax and investor relations.

“It is also noteworthy that in joining the board, Anne becomes the first female director of Rabobank Australia & New Zealand. As a bank whose primary focus is on the food and agricultural sectors in Australia and New Zealand, where women are increasingly represented in senior roles, it is fitting that this is also reflected in the make-up of the board.”

Ms Brennan also serves as a non-executive director on the boards of Myer, Charter Hall, Nufarm, Argo Investments and Cuscal.

Ms Brennan’s former executive roles included chief financial officer of CSR and finance director of the Coates Group.

Previously, in a 25-year career in professional services, she was a partner in three leading firms – KPMG, Arthur Andersen and Ernst & Young. In this time, she worked in audit, corporate finance and transaction services practices. She was a member of Ernst & Young’s board and served on its national executive team.

Ms Brennan holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) degree from the University College Galway. She is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Other directors of Rabobank’s Australian and New Zealand board are – Bill Gurry, John Palmer, David Smithers, Ralph Dekker, Thos Gieskes (Rabobank Australia & New Zealand CEO), Berry Marttin and Sander Pruijs.

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 110 years’ experience providing customised banking and finance solutions to businesses involved in all aspects of food and agribusiness. Rabobank is structured as a cooperative and operates in 48 countries, servicing the needs of approximately 10 million clients worldwide through a network of more than 1600 offices and branches. Rabobank Australia & New Zealand is one of Australasia’s leading rural lenders and a significant provider of business and corporate banking and financial services to the region’s food and agribusiness sector. The bank has 93 branches throughout Australia and New Zealand.

ENDS

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