Rabobank appoints new head of food and agri research for Australia & New Zealand

Rabobank

Rabobank has announced the appointment of Stefan Vogel as General Manager of its food and agribusiness research division, RaboResearch, in Australia and New Zealand.

Mr Vogel takes on the role after more than seven years with Rabobank in London, where he held two concurrent global positions with the bank – Head of Agri Commodity Markets Research and Global Grains and Oilseeds Sector Strategist.

In his new position, based in Sydney, Mr Vogel leads the Australian and New Zealand arm of the agribusiness bank’s highly-regarded global food and agricultural research division, RaboResearch.

In Australia and New Zealand, RaboResearch comprises a team of 10 specialist agri commodities analysts, who are part of a network of 75 research analysts worldwide focussed on providing comprehensive, leading-edge food and agribusiness research for the bank’s clients.

Announcing the appointment, Rabobank Australia & New Zealand Regional Manager Peter Knoblanche said Mr Vogel brought a wealth of knowledge and experience in the global food and agricultural industries to his new role.

“The bank is fortunate to be able to benefit from Stefan’s international perspective, combined with a strong background in leading teams to consistently deliver valuable, business-focussed sector and commodity research for clients around the world,” he said.

“In his new role, he will work to support and strengthen the Australian and New Zealand RaboResearch team as they provide market-leading knowledge and insights to our rural and wholesale clients in the region.”

Mr Knoblanche said Mr Vogel was already well known to many of the bank’s Australian and New Zealand clients, and, more broadly, in the local agricultural sector.

“Stefan has previously toured Australia as a visiting expert in grains and oilseeds and also joined Australian and New Zealand clients on the bank’s European grain tour in 2018. He regularly participates in online presentation and podcasts and is a frequent commentator in local media,” he said.

Mr Vogel – who takes over his new role from Tim Hunt, who left the bank last year – has close to 20 years’ experience working in the international food, agribusiness and trade industries.

Prior to joining Rabobank, he worked for more than a decade in strategy and market research positions with international agribusiness Archer Daniels Midland, including in the US as Director Market Research & Business Analytics and in Germany as Head of Economics Department.

He holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Agricultural Economics from the University of Giessen, Germany.

Mr Vogel said he was delighted and excited to take on this new role in Australia and New Zealand.

“Both countries are world leading in so many aspects of food and agricultural production and I’m very much looking forward to the opportunity of working with rural and wholesale clients here and assisting them in their future growth,” he said.

Mr Knoblanche thanked Rabobank Senior Commodity Analyst Cheryl Kalisch Gordon, who had acted in the General Manager RaboResearch role until Mr Vogel’s commencement.

/Public Release.