Rabobank sees growth in Horticulture and Viticulture - New role created
- By: "Farm Tender" News
- Machinery & Equipment News
- May 18, 2018
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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.
General manager of RaboResearch Food & Agribusiness Tim Hunt said the new appointment was an opportunity to take advantage of Mr Higgins’ extensive knowledge of the horticulture and viticulture industries.
“Over the past 15 years in his career in rural banking, Hayden has worked extensively across a range of industries, but has had particular exposure to both wine and horticulture,” he said.
“Since joining Rabobank in 2010 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 in this time.”
Mr Higgins has also served as chair of Rabobank’s NZ horticulture strategy team since 2014.
Based in Hastings on New Zealand’s North Island, Mr Higgins will cover the horticulture and viticulture sectors for the bank in both Australia and New Zealand.
Part of global specialist food and agribusiness banking cooperative Rabobank Group, Rabobank Australia 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 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.”
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