Agribusiness lending specialist Rabobank has bolstered its presence in northern Australia with the appointment of senior rural banking executive Joe Webb.
Mr Webb – who has spent most of his banking career in north Queensland – has taken up the newly-created role as the bank's Head of Relationship Management for North Queensland and the Northern Territory, to cover a region spanning the Kimberley through to Longreach.
Announcing the appointment, Rabobank Regional Manager for North Queensland and the Northern Territory Trent McIndoe said in this new role, Mr Webb joined the bank's northern regional leadership team, alongside Head of Relationship Management Chris Adams, who covers the coastal regions of North Queensland and predominately sugar, cropping and horticulture businesses.
Mr McIndoe said Joe Webb brought extensive banking experience to the role, as well as a passion for the northern cattle industry.
"Working for the past decade in agri banking roles in north Queensland, including Hughenden and Townsville – where he continues to reside, Joe has developed a solid understanding of the beef cattle industry up here," he said.
"And with Joe's appointment, we now have two specialised senior agri bankers on the ground to assist the bank's team of 20 rural lenders, based in nine regional branches, to provide a relationship-focussed service to clients."
Originating from a beef and sheep property in southern New South Wales, Mr Webb has had a lifelong association with agriculture, and holds a Bachelor of Agricultural Economics from the University of New England.
Starting his career in Forbes in regional New South Wales, Mr Webb "made the move up north 10 years ago".
"The size and scope of operations up here, and the people, are second-to-none," he said. "They are passionate about their industry and what they do, and for me – being part of that, even in a small way – makes it a joy to go to work each day."
Moving to Townsville six years ago, Mr Webb said the way people had welcomed his family into the community had been "pretty humbling".
"This is something you don't get in many places, but you get it in spades up here," he said.
A keen participant in campdrafting, Mr Webb, along with his wife Tania and three children compete in competitions anywhere from Richmond up to the Gulf. And this interest has certainly helped ingrain them in the community.
"Community up here is so critical and seeing how these communities handle the good and bad times with such resolve is extraordinary," he said. "It's why we love the north."
Making the move from another financial institution to Rabobank earlier this year, Mr Webb said he was attracted by the bank's sole focus on agribusiness and the industry it supports.
"Our producers know the bank is here for the long-term, and that we won't jump in and jump out of agriculture," he said. "This investment in the long-term is not only powerful for our clients, but also our employees as it attracts like-minded people to work for the bank."
Mr Webb's region includes branches based in Darwin, Townsville, Cloncurry and Longreach, while Mr Adams' patch covers Atherton, Ingham, Ayr, Mackay and Emerald.
