March 5, 2007

 

Rabobank bolsters food and agribusiness division in South-east Asia with new blood

 

Press release
 

 

Rabobank International announced Mar 1 and with immediate effect, the appointment of Thomas Bauer as Head of Food & Agribusiness Strategic Advisory & Research for South-east Asia.

 

Based in Singapore, Bauer reports to Patrick Vizzone, Regional Head, Food & Agribusiness (F&A), Asia, and is responsible for the overall management of Rabobank's food and agribusiness research and advisory team.

 

Additionally, Bauer oversees the provision of internal agribusiness research and intelligence to Rabobank's clients and corporate divisions.

 

By providing Rabobank's South-east Asian clients with first-hand insight into food and agricultural issues, developments and markets, as well as valuable information affecting their business sectors, Bauer and his team enhances Rabobank's strategic advisory function in the region, the company said in its press release on the appointment.

 

Bauer boasts an impressive track record in strategic F&A research and advisories. Prior to his current appointment, he headed his own business consultancy company that focused on price risk management, business start-up and marketing research, servicing customers including non-profit organisation Winrock International, a consortium of organic food companies and a coffee roaster in New York.

 

From 2000 to 2005, he was a market advisor with commodity trade advisory firm Brock Associates, where he managed substantial hedge portfolios of many corporate and individual clients involving a multitude of commodity risk management and procurement programmes.

 

Bauer was a business consultant with Monsanto in Jakarta, Indonesia, from 1995 to 1998, when he played a leading role in establishing a house credit programme that successfully boosted sales of crop protection products. During his stay in Indonesia, he was also involved in activities aimed at improving the country's agricultural sector, such as lobbying to strengthen pesticide safety policies.

 

As a commodity consultant, Bauer has conducted valuation of numerous organic food companies in their pursuit of organic, phytosanitary and import standards certification.

 

Regarding education, Bauer attained both Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Agronomy from the University of Wisconsin, US.

 

"Bauer brings a wealth of experience in the F&A research and advisory business, and has an astute understanding of both traditional and non-traditional F&A sectors globally and across the region. His expertise will enhance Rabobank's ability to offer strategic advisory and research services to our F&A clients in this region," commented Vizzone.

 

The F&A industry in South-east Asia has been growing in recent years, supported by economic expansion, increasing consumer sophistication and advancements in new growth sectors such as bio-fuels. Rabobank said it plans to tap on this growth, and further strengthen its leading position as a premier financier and provider of F&A knowledge for clients in the industry.

 

Thomas Bauer