archiveIndependent Director Insider

Chinese foreign direct investment (FDI) in Southeast Asia is growing rapidly but remains concentrated in tertiary industries such as finance, construction, and real estate, particularly in less-developed economies like Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar. A recent study by Guanie Lim and Chengwei Xu, published on 10 September 2024, suggests that China’s...

4 Ways MDM Accelerates Growth — And the Numbers to Prove It If your organization’s data were an orchestra, would it sound harmonious? A full-scale symphony orchestra consists of up to 100 musicians playing more than 20 different instruments. Strings. Woodwind. Brass. Percussion. First violins. Second violins. Double basses. Flutes....

Mark Koziel, CPA, CGMA, has been named the next CEO of AICPA & CIMA, which jointly operate as the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants. His appointment follows a global search for a successor to Barry Melancon, CPA, CGMA, the longest-serving CEO in AICPA's history, who announced his retirement earlier...

Japan experienced its largest export decline since early 2021 in September, casting doubt on the strength of its economic recovery amid weakening global demand. According to a report from the Ministry of Finance, exports fell by 1.7% year-on-year, driven by a drop in shipments of cars, mineral fuels, and construction...

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly transformed the landscape of employee benefits, especially for remote workers. As Anna Lyons, Chief Talent Officer of Alegeus, highlighted in our recent interview, the number of people working remotely nearly tripled between 2019 and 2021. This shift prompted organizations to rethink their benefits packages to better...

Canadian company Vericatch is cracking the code currently challenging the global fishing community to achieve a sensitive balance with nature without sacrificing its future. The software solutions provider is helping to revolutionize fisheries management with flexible catch reporting and seafood traceability software. In so doing, they are empowering the ability to...

Arne Schepker, CEO of the Berlin-based language learning platform Babbel, is stepping down, and co-founder and former CEO Markus Witte is stepping back into a leadership role during the search for Schepker’s successor, according to a statement from the company. Witte will not immediately assume the CEO position but will...

Johannesburg, South Africa’s largest city and economic center, is facing a growing crisis in basic service delivery, highlighting a stark contrast between its wealth and the deteriorating conditions endured by its residents. Despite being home to numerous multinational headquarters, major financial institutions, and Africa’s largest stock exchange, the Johannesburg Stock...

Culture and social impact, frequently appearing as separate conversations, collide as critical ingredients to tackle some challenges faced by businesses in the digital age. A Forbes article highlights this synergy calling out companies as ‘being the equivalent of corporate citizens.’ Given that ‘corporate citizen’ is an amalgamation of many hearts...

“We are facing turbulent challenges.” “Navigating turbulent waters.” “There might be some turbulent times ahead.” “These are turbulent times.” Every business leader will tell you to expect the unexpected when building, launching, joining, or expanding a company. While economic and political trends can be forecasted and safeguarded against, what happens...