A leading Jakarta-based businessman says multinational companies operating in emerging markets, including China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia, must utilize the invaluable services of respected executive recruitment companies like Monroe Consulting Group.
Michael Andersen, a global sales and business development executive with a core focus on Asian capital goods and consumer goods, said recruitment companies offered a range of services, including good, practical insights into human resources (HR) management.
“Make a point to find them, understand them well,” he said.
Mr Andersen was speaking an information-sharing session at Monroe Consulting Group Indonesia’s offices in Jakarta.
The executive, who is of mixed Asian and Western heritage and speaks six languages, has achieved much in life after starting his career at the very bottom “making coffee for the boss” of Danish shipping company Stena Weca, while completing his education.
These include serving as an Indonesian government trade adviser to Nordic countries and turning around an underperforming oil and gas transportation business in Indonesia, increasing annual sales revenue by 480 percent to US$16 million in 12 months.
As a senior executive with Swedish-Swiss company ABB, which operates in the areas of robotics, power, heavy electrical equipment and automation technology, he increased sales turnover in 22 countries in the Asia-Pacific region from $89 million to $150 million.
Tina Nugraheni, head of Monroe Consulting Group Indonesia’s specialised industrial recruitment division, said the recruitment company often held knowledge sharing sessions with respected executives to gain insights into the issues confronting specific industries and helping to formulate solutions.
“We have worked with Mr Andersen before, so not only was it great to hear his views on a range of important issues but also provide such positive feedback on our recruitment services,” she said.
“As an emerging market specialist, Monroe has an intimate knowledge the countries in which we operate, and of course, the ability to source and recruit hard-to-find talent in the marketplace, and managing excessive salary expectations.”