Town Hall in ABN AMRO

We had our Town Hall last Thursday (23rd Nov) in Taj Man Singh Hotel-Delhi.

The Communication from Coutry Executive Office said....

Dear All,
Mr. Jeroen Drost, CEO, BU Asia, Ms. Pauline van der Meer Mohr, Head Group HR and Mr. Ton Van Grampel, Head HR of BU Asia would be visiting
New Delhi on November 23rd and would like to use the opportunity to meet and address employees in a townhall on the occasion of their visit to India.
The townhall is scheduled to be held on Thursday, 23rd November, 2006 at 6:30pm at the Longchamp, The Taj Mahal Hotel, 1, Mansingh Road,
New Delhi and you are invited to the same.
This would be followed by cocktails and the event is expected to be over by 9pm.
Please note that as the Townhall would commence at 6:30pm sharp, request all to be there by 6:15 pm.
Look forward to seeing you there.
Best Regards
Romesh Sobti,
Country Executive, India.

So we landed up.....

My observation:

1.ABN AMRO Top Management really believes in communicating with it's employees specially those at a leadership position.

2. They alsways want to share the thought process which is prevalent at a particular point of time.

3. Growth is important -and now as a Bank they believe in focussed growth

4. As an Organisation they are really geared up for towards 535

Some observation which might sound negative:

1.Town Hall should always be for all employees ...can't be for specific set of employees.

2.As a Bank we really don't have dynamic speakers who can stir audiences and make them listen spellbound.

3.Felt some-where there is still disconnect in what HR and Business wants

4. Most HR initiatives (at least in India) are more are theoritical or at ideation stage.

Any how the good part was everybody dranked.had snacks (no dinner...cost control)...i could meet some dear colleagues from the Branches/Region.