MNC: World's their oyster

GLOBALISATION is so entrenched today that any multi-national company (MNC) worth its salt has planted its flag on just about every continent.

Singapore has about 7,000 MNCs today.

No wonder there is a surge in demand for able leaders to steer this bumper crop of MNCs through the choppy waters of market and shareholder demands.

Those who draw top-dollar salaries tend to clinch the biggest deals, and so generate the most revenue and value for the company.

This can make it quite a Herculean task, particularly in Asia where economic, language and cultural differences mean business practices differ from country to country.

Being some of the most admired companies in the world, MNCs are also constantly on the cutting-edge - pursuing new growth strategies or restructuring to become more efficient.

'There's a lot of change management in MNCs, so top executives are always dealing with people's emotions which, whether rational or not, are real,' says Mr Mark Sparrow, country manager for global professional recruiters Hudson.

Estimated salary range of top earners: Between $300,000 and $4 million a year.

Oft-cited top earners: Chief executives, chief financial officers and chief operating officers of petrochemical behemoths such as Shell, Exxonmobil and Dupont. They can come from various disciplines, including business, banking and law.

Who they are: The top 3 to 5 per cent in MNC management.

What you need to be in the top tier: Mr Sparrow says: 'It's okay to have a strategy, but making it happen and getting your staff to live and breathe it is an art. Success in achieving this is highly prized and highly remunerated.'

Where the money is: Traditionally, oil and gas, and flavour-of-the-era industries such as healthcare and pharmaceuticals.

Point to consider: Harvard Business School professor D. Quinn Mills says: 'Culture may colour the way things are done, but affects less what is done'. Something for the globally mobile to chew on.