Agribusiness banking specialist Rabobank has announced the appointment of Hayden Higgins to head up its horticulture and wine sector research.
Mr Higgins joins the bank’s food and agribusiness research team from his role as major agribusiness manager with Rabobank New Zealand, a position he held since 2010.
Rabobank New Zealand CEO Todd Charteris said the new appointment enabled the bank to take advantage of Mr Higgins’ extensive knowledge of the horticulture and viticulture industries.
“During a 15-year career in rural banking, Hayden has worked extensively across a range of industries, but with particular exposure to wine and horticulture,” he said.
“Since joining Rabobank in the Hawkes Bay region, he has worked closely with some of the largest and most complex wine, horticulture and other agribusiness clients in the North Island and has built a substantial in-depth knowledge of these key industries.”
Mr Higgins has also served as chair of Rabobank’s NZ horticulture strategy team since 2014.
Based in Hastings, Mr Higgins will cover the horticulture and viticulture sectors for the bank in both New Zealand and Australia.
Part of global specialist food and agribusiness banking cooperative Rabobank Group, Rabobank New Zealand is one of the country’s largest rural lenders and a major provider of corporate and business banking services to the food and agribusiness sector.
The bank’s RaboResearch Food & Agribusiness division is focused on undertaking research into the food and agribusiness sector for the benefit of Rabobank’s clients – including comprehensive reports on sector and commodity outlooks, latest market trends and future industry developments. The local New Zealand and Australian research team is part of a global network of more than 80 analysts across the bank.
Mr Higgins has a Bachelor’s Degree in Agribusiness from Massey University and completed his Master’s Degree through Lincoln University with his dissertation project focussing on the governance of large farm businesses in New Zealand.
Originally from the Horowhenua region in the North Island, an area known for horticulture and pastoral farming, Mr Higgins said he developed a keen interest in the agri sector from a young age.
“I was fortunate to work in a number of different farming operations across New Zealand and the UK, forming an appreciation of the pastoral sector, prior to commencing study and getting into banking and I am fortunate now to still be involved in agriculture albeit from a different side of the farm gate.”
Rabobank New Zealand is a part of the global Rabobank Group, the world’s leading specialist in food and agribusiness banking. Rabobank has more than 120 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 40 countries, servicing the needs of about 10 million clients worldwide through a network of close to 1000 offices and branches. Rabobank New Zealand is one of the country's leading agricultural lenders and a significant provider of business and corporate banking and financial services to the New Zealand food and agribusiness sector. The bank has 32 offices throughout New Zealand.
Media contacts:
David Johnston
Media Relations Manager
Rabobank New Zealand
Phone: 04 819 2711 or 027 477 8153
Email: david.johnston@rabobank.com
Denise Shaw
Head of Media Relations
Rabobank Australia & New Zealand
Phone: +612 8115 2744 or +61 2 439 603 525
Email: denise.shaw@rabobank.com