Willem Boezen appointed CEO of Rabobank North America
NEW YORK (March 28, 2024) – The Rabobank managing board appointed Willem Boezen as Head and CEO for Rabobank North America effective July 1, 2024, pending regulatory approval.
Boezen joined Rabobank in 2012. Most recently, he has served as global head of wholesale clients since 2017 and chairman of Rabobank Investments since 2020. In this role, he has been a key driver of Rabobank’s commercial and investment banking client engagement across the globe and setting the direction for the global wholesale business. With extensive experience and knowledge of North American clientele, Boezen is well positioned to succeed Paul Beiboer, who will step down in April.
“We have a strong franchise in North America. For our wholesale, farmer and leasing clients, we can serve the entire value chain,” said Boezen. “Rabobank has the ambition to grow outside the Netherlands and North America will continue to play a key role. We will continue to transform our business with sustainability and simplicity in mind. I feel privileged to work with our North American clients and colleagues on these ambitions.”
Boezen previously served as global head of corporate finance at Rabobank. He has been in banking for over 30 years and has advised clients in more than 30 countries around the world. Before joining Rabobank, he worked for the Royal Bank of Scotland and ABN AMRO in Amsterdam, London and Hong Kong.
Ahead of his career in finance, Boezen served in the Royal Dutch Army. He holds a Master degree in Economics from Groningen University and also studied at INSEAD, Fontainebleau (France) and Anderson School of Management, University of California in Los Angeles.
Departing CEO Beiboer, who began his career with Rabobank in New York 30 years ago, has been leading the North America region since 2016. During his tenure, he led bank-wide transformation initiatives that strengthened the organization and brought the North America business lines – Rabo AgriFinance, Wholesale Banking and DLL – closer together. His combination of leadership and dedication to client relationships grew the bank’s portfolio and expanded its presence within the food, agriculture and energy sectors.
“My significant source of inspiration, motivation, and energy has been my frequent visits with our incredible clients, who value our partnership with them tremendously,” Beiboer said. “I have always felt equally at home at the kitchen table with our farmer clients as I have with a executives in a boardroom, and it is this interaction that I will undoubtedly miss enormously.”
David Bassett, the current Head of Wholesale Banking North America, will serve as CEO ad interim to ensure a smooth transition.
“We look forward to Willem joining us in July,” Bassett said. “In the meantime, I will work closely with our North American regional colleagues to keep our strategic goals on pace.”
About Rabobank
Rabobank Group is a global financial services leader providing wholesale and retail banking, leasing, and real estate services in more than 38 countries worldwide. Founded over a century ago, Rabobank today is one of the world’s largest banks with over $660 billion in assets.
In the Americas, Rabobank Wholesale Banking North America is a premier corporate and investment bank to the food, agribusiness, commodities and energy industries. Rabo AgriFinance, a subsidiary of Rabobank, is a leading financial services provider for farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses in the United States. Together, we provide sector expertise, strategic counsel and tailored financial solutions to clients across the entire value chain. Visit www.RabobankWholesaleBankingNA.com and www.RaboAg.com.
