Smart Organisation and Strategizing Talent for APAC Growth in 2025
As multinational companies (MNCs & SMEs alike) seek to capitalize on Asia's dynamic markets in 2025, our Managing Director Isabelle Larche, French Foreign Trade Advisors in Singapore, joined fellow leaders to share her insights with ESSEC Business School students (Isabelle’s interview is on page 58). We are happy to share The "Asian Strategy Challenge" full report here (https://shorturl.at/Ssn90) and our executive summary below.
Helping our clients succeed in their APAC Growth is Timeo mission and we are happy to share a few practical examples of recent success stories that could inspire your own initiatives.
(Executive Summary) - How can an Organisation drive growth and increase competitiveness by establishing a presence in Asia, while minimizing risks? What are the optimal operating models for Organisations entering and or developing their business in Asia? Three areas of focus: headquarters location, functional distribution, and resilient supply chains.
Singapore emerges as a preferred regional headquarters due to its strategic location, political stability, robust intellectual property (IP) protection, business-friendly environment, and excellent connectivity. The "Glocal" approach—global oversight with local adaptations—is emphasized, ensuring strategies resonate with Asia's diverse markets.
1. Headquarters & Functional Distribution
Singapore's advanced infrastructure, talent pool, and regulatory framework make it ideal for regional management, logistics, and high-level strategic functions. Non-core activities, such as customer support and localized marketing, are better suited to other ASEAN countries based on their strengths. For instance, Vietnam is highlighted for cost-effective manufacturing, Malaysia for engineering expertise, and Indonesia for consumer market potential.
2. Resilient Supply Chains
The "China + 1" strategy is a key recommendation, advocating diversification of manufacturing and supply networks to mitigate risks tied to over-reliance on China. Vietnam and India are cited as attractive alternatives due to lower labor costs and growing industrial capacities. Nearshoring and multi-sourcing strategies enhance supply chain resilience, enabling businesses to adapt to geopolitical challenges, market demands, and disruptions.
3. Sector-Specific Insights
The aeronautics and cosmetics industries illustrate how companies can leverage Singapore's strategic advantages. In aeronautics, Singapore's government initiatives and collaborative ecosystem foster innovation and regional connectivity, while its infrastructure supports efficient manufacturing and distribution. For cosmetics, Singapore's logistical capabilities and proximity to ASEAN markets allow global brands to cater effectively to diverse consumer preferences.
4. Sustainability & Innovation
Sustainability is a recurring theme, with Singapore's Green Plan 2030 aligning with global trends. Companies are encouraged to integrate sustainable practices into their strategies, ensuring compliance with emerging regulations while driving innovation. By combining strategic regional presence, localized adaptations, and diversified supply chains, businesses can enhance competitiveness and growth in Asia while minimizing risks.
Our Expertise in Action: success stories that can inspire your initiatives in Asia
Regional Talent Organisation Strategy for a global leading Operator in Travel Retail.
Timeo redesigned (jobs, roles and responsibilities) and implemented (hire, and train) an APAC talent strategy to re-distribute the company capabilities in nearby countries- based on the talent pool and markets (Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam). We hired local teams in their fastest expanding markets, reviewed and built a pipeline for future senior regional roles (and ensure a more robust succession plan), consolidated the Regional hub in Singapore with senior hires operating on a matrix model.
Scaling success for a leader MNC in the Pro-Audio sector.
We have help them build a very strong regional hub in Singapore to scale and win key markets in the region through the recruitment of experts Sales Managers in each market. We started with a one man show in 2021, hiring the GM Sales for APAC, based in Singapore to a 30+ strong team in 2024. Singapore being the regional hub for the Company (including a logistics hub). With a direct commercial presence on their key markets (China, Japan and Korea).
Localisation tactic for one of our clients in the Biotech industry
Executing a “local to local” approach : Timeo helped established their (lean) regional base in Singapore, developing strong sub-hub in Korea and China, while advising on where to locate different key functions, like Regulatory Affairs, Digital Marketing, and more.
Employer attractiveness to support growth goals for one of our clients in the banking industry
Helping a German bank stand out as an employer of choice in APAC amidst strong talent competition by fostering a unique environment for professional and personal growth. Our approach consists in designing a comprehensive people’s strategy which includes an internal mentoring program and a bespoke AI-powered digital learning platform for skills development for all. These initiatives are further reinforced by a strong management engagement, and targeted people management training.
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