Agribusiness banking specialist Rabobank has appointed Stuart Whatling as the new head of its Tasmanian business.
Mr Whatling will be responsible for leading Rabobank’s growing agricultural banking operations across Tasmania, with locations in Launceston, Devonport, Smithton and Hobart.
He succeeds former Tasmanian manager Kathryn Brown, who has moved to a new role with the bank in Western Australia.
Announcing the appointment, Rabobank regional manager for Southern Victoria and Tasmania Hamish McAlpin said Mr Whatling had “lengthy experience in agriculture and banking and a deep understanding of Tasmania’s agricultural sector”.
Mr Whatling has served as Victorian and Tasmanian regional manager of Rabobank’s Major Agribusiness Clients (MAC) division since joining the bank in 2012 – a responsibility he will continue to hold in his new role.
He has been based in Tasmania since 2015.
Mr McAlpin said Mr Whatling was “exceptionally well placed” to lead the bank’s growing operations in the rapidly-developing Tasmanian agricultural sector.
“Stuart has lived and worked in Tasmania for a number of years and has a wealth of knowledge and understanding of the state’s agricultural sector,” Mr McAlpin said.
“Tasmanian agriculture has reliability and productivity that is the envy of all on the mainland and the state’s food and agri sector is enjoying exceptionally strong growth, with a very exciting future ahead. And we are delighted to have Stuart on board in this role to lead the Tasmanian business as we partner with the sector here in this future growth.”
Originally from the United Kingdom, Mr Whatling has a life-long association with agriculture and holds a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Business Management (with Honours) from the University of London’s Wye College.
Mr Whatling said he was excited to have the opportunity to play an active role – along with the Rabobank Tasmania team – in the ongoing development of the state’s agricultural sector, which is targeted to grow to a $10 billion a year industry by 2050.
“As a specialist agricultural bank, Rabobank is very well placed to continue to support the development of the industry here, bringing our knowledge and expertise in food and agri research and our strong sector networks to the local market,” he said.
Rabobank Australia & 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 approximately 10 million clients worldwide through a network of more than 1000 offices and branches. Rabobank Australia & New Zealand is one of Australasia’s leading agricultural lenders and a significant provider of business and corporate banking and financial services to the region’s food and agribusiness sector. The bank has 93 branches throughout Australia and New Zealand.
