When William (Bill) F. Stephenson was appointed CEO of DLL in 2014, it wasn’t a normal, run-of-the-mill announcement. The Netherlands-founded and -based company, wholly owned by the Dutch multinational banking giant, Rabobank Group, had never appointed a non-Dutch national to the top job. The appointment of Bill, an American, made history for the international finance company, which employs over 5,000 people in more than 35 countries and manages a portfolio exceeding US$40 billion.
For Bill, who has been with DLL since 1987, and whose appointment was subject to the approval of the Dutch National Bank (the Dutch equivalent of the US Federal Reserve), the relationship with Rabobank has been beneficial to both organisations. Rabobank have been an excellent parent in providing DLL with all the necessary tools, funding, and support to enable us to execute our strategy and business plans. Having a long-term relationship with a very supportive and stable parent is extremely powerful in our business. Our clients place a significant premium on stability, consistency, and resilience. We have stood by our clients through market cycles, in good times and in bad, and we have been able to consistently deliver on that promise when many of our competitors have not, Bill says.
The full interview with Bill Stephenson is featured in the July edition of The CEO Magazine.