Rabobank New Zealand announces new CEO

Media release July 13, 2016

Rabobank New Zealand announces new CEO

Rabobank New Zealand has announced the appointment of Daryl Johnson to the position of chief executive officer.

Effective immediately, the appointment sees Mr Johnson take over the role from Crawford Taylor, who has served as CEO in an interim capacity since October 2015.

Announcing the appointment, Rabobank New Zealand Chairman John Palmer said the bank was very pleased to have a highly-experienced banking executive of Mr Johnson’s calibre take the helm of the business as it continues its growth and development in the New Zealand market.

The world’s leading specialist food and agribusiness bank, Rabobank is one of New Zealand’s largest rural lenders and a major provider of corporate and business banking services to the country’s food and agribusiness sector. The bank also runs online retail savings and investments business RaboDirect.

“Daryl is a very experienced and highly-credentialed international banking executive, and we are delighted to announce his appointment to take on the role of CEO in New Zealand,” Mr Palmer said.

“Daryl’s skills and extensive experience in business and retail banking across a number of countries ideally complement Rabobank’s very strong franchise in the New Zealand rural and food and agribusiness banking market.

“It is exciting that the Rabobank brand and sector reputation can attract such a proven banking leader, as we seek to build on our business at a time where parts of the agricultural sector are under pressure.”

Mr Johnson until last year was CEO Asia for National Australia Bank, leading the bank’s operations across seven countries – China, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, India, Indonesia and Vietnam.

A career banker with more than 35 years’ experience in banking and finance, Mr Johnson previously worked with National Australia Bank in Australia, as Executive General Manager of Nabbusiness (responsible for leading the bank’s Commercial and SME Business Banking and Asset Finance division in Australia) and as General Manager Corporate Banking.

Prior to joining NAB in 2009, he spent several years with ANZ Bank in Australia in roles including Managing Director Business Banking. Media release July 13, 2016

Earlier in his career, Mr Johnson worked in rural and regional banking, spending approximately four years based in Wickepin and Katanning in Western Australia’s wheat belt.

Since leaving his role as CEO Asia for National Australia Bank, he has spent several months working in a pro bono capacity with Second Bite, an organisation which provides access to fresh, nutritious food for people in need across Australia through the redistribution of surplus food.

Originally from Western Australia, Mr Johnson has a Bachelor of Business (Financial Management & Economics) from Curtin University and an MBA from Murdoch University. He is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Mr Johnson has also served as a director of Eftpos New Zealand.

Mr Johnson said he was delighted to be appointed CEO of Rabobank New Zealand. “The opportunity to lead the world's leading specialist agribusiness bank in one of the world's leading agricultural countries is a great honour. I have spent considerable time in New Zealand and my wife and I are looking forward to making Wellington our home," he said.

Mr Palmer thanked Crawford Taylor for his hard work and dedication in the nine months he served as interim CEO for Rabobank New Zealand. Mr Taylor is returning to work with Rabobank in Australia.

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