Rabobank has announced the appointment of Stefan Vogel as general manager of its food and agribusiness research division, RaboResearch, in Australia and New Zealand.
Vogel takes on the role after over 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, Vogel will lead a team of 10 specialist agri commodities analysts, who are part of a network of 75 research analysts worldwide. They are focused on providing comprehensive food and agribusiness research for the bank’s clients.
Announcing the appointment, Rabobank Australia & New Zealand regional manager Peter Knoblanche said that Vogel brings 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-focused 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.”
Vogel is already well known to many of the bank’s Australian and New Zealand clients, and, more broadly, in the local agricultural sector, Knoblanche said.
“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.
Vogel takes over his new role from Tim Hunt, who left the bank last year, and has close to 20 years of experience working in the international food, agribusiness and trade industries.
Prior to joining Rabobank, he worked for over 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.
Vogel said he was delighted and excited to take on this new role.
“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,” Vogel said.
Knoblanche thanked Rabobank senior commodity analyst, Cheryl Kalisch Gordon, who has acted in the general manager RaboResearch role until Vogel’s commencement.