Top-performing multinational companies increasingly now look to Asia Pacific as 
a testbed for innovation in their business models and services before 
introducing them to other parts of the world. 

The disclosure comes in a book, "Leadership Disrupted", published in Singapore 
today by Mark Braithwaite, head of global executive search firm Odgers 
Berndtson in Asia Pacific. It charts how top companies and their leaders are 
responding to disruption and how they are striving to stay ahead. 

Based on research from 70 face to face interviews with the APAC leaders of some 
of the world's most successful multinational companies, with combined sales 
exceeding $1 trillion, the book investigates how all leaders are being 
challenged by the accelerating pace of change.  

"Business model innovations are increasingly being tested in APAC and exported 
to Europe and the US," says Mr. Braithwaite. "Innovation is no longer just 
about product, but new ways of servicing customers and companies choose Asia to 
test this because its culture of embracing change is far ahead of that in the 
West." 

"The pace of change is accelerating, and we are living through a period of 
disruption that will be an extinction event for companies that are slow or 
unwilling to adapt," Benjamin Tan, Senior Vice President Asia, for Qantas 
Airways is quoted as saying. 

Richard Martin, Managing Director of IMA Asia adds: "During turmoil, success 
comes down to the teams that are built and how they are led." 

One successful innovation trialled in Asia comes from a global services 
company, which moved its whole business onto WeChat in China. The innovation 
was to shift 100% of communications between employees and customers – including 
marketing, invoicing, video-conferencing – onto WeChat. The global CEO said 
this leapfrogged the West and resolved many efficiency problems. 

"Leadership Disrupted" is published by Odgers Berndtson, also hosting a series 
of events to discuss the issues it raises across Asia Pacific. In response to 
the concerns and challenges shared by chief executives, the firm has introduced 
a proprietary new tool, LeaderFit Profile, to help assess mindset in executive 
recruitment. 

For more information on the book please visit: 
https://www.odgersberndtson.com/en-sg/leadership-disrupted 

www.odgersberndtson.com 
@odgersberndtson


SOURCE: Odgers Berndtson