Predicting 2012.... Talent trends in Supply Chain! Greece will default. The Euro will survive. Employment prospects will improve in the USA. London will be wet and foggy. Its the Year of the Dragon and the mixed bag of challenges in 2011 looks likely to become the norm in 2012 writes, Kimble Winter, Group CEO of Logistics Executive Group. It’s only fitting that we begin yet another year of the nervous noughties by trying to predict what lies ahead. According to readers responding, some tongue in cheek, to a question posed by the Economist(1), there is a mixed bag of predictions: “A Brit and a Yank will sit at their local pub. (They will say) "Oh how great our imperialist adventures were!" Haggle over the bill, and (then) pay in Yuan.” “Greece will default. The Euro will survive. Employment prospects will improve in the USA. London will be wet and foggy.” “Goodbye 2011, Windows 8, iPhone 5, Obama 2, Recovery -1.” “Skilled, childless adults from Western Europe and America begin working remotely from countries with more favorable tax codes.” And it will be the Year of the Dragon…will this be the year we see China positively take the high road, play good global citizen and lead the world from the brink of economic disaster?....Or will it more likely to claim itself as a developing nation, setting the backdrop for a high-stakes trade and currency war not dissimilar to the popular Hasbro board game ‘Risk’....read more......

1. CEO EXECUTIVE SERIES! 24 JANUARY 2012
Predicting 2012....
Talent trends in Supply Chain
NEWS &
Greece wi! default. The Euro wi! survive. Employment pros-
pects wi! improve in the USA. London wi! be wet and fo#y.
Its the Year of the Dragon and the mixed bag of cha!enges in
2011 looks likely to become the norm in 2012 writes, Kimble EVENTS
Winter, Group CEO of Logistics Executive Group.
Upcoming Events
World Cargo Symposium 2012
The 6th World Cargo Symposium
“Goodbye 2011, continues its focus on moving the
industry from talk to action. Attracting
over 1,000 key decision makers from
Windows 8, the air cargo supply chain, the 2012
event will feature sessions on
S e c u r i t y, e - C a r g o , I n n o v a t i o n ,
iPhone 5, Operations and Commercial aspects .
Held in Kuala Lumper, Malaysia
Obama 2, and March 13-15, 2012.
(click here to find out more)
Recovery -1.....” Logistics Executive
Global News
Supply Chain Expert boosts
Logistics Executive Hong Kong
Strengthening our Asia operations, we
welcome Mark Millar to the Logistics
Executive group. Leveraging 25 years
It’s only fitting that we begin yet another year of the nervous of global experience, Mark is highly
noughties by trying to predict what lies ahead. According to readers regarded for creating value for clients
by improving performance in their
responding, some tongue in cheek, to a question posed by the
logistics and supply chain activities in
Economist(1), there is a mixed bag of predictions: China and the Asia Pacific region.
“A Brit and a Yank will sit at their local pub. (They will say) "Oh With extensive experience in the
how great our imperialist adventures were!" Haggle over the bill, and mainland China market, he has
(then) pay in Yuan.” worked with, and for, many leading
“Greece will default. The Euro will survive. Employment companies in the Consumer Retail,
prospects will improve in the USA. London will be wet and foggy.” High Tech Electronics and Third Party
“Goodbye 2011, Windows 8, iPhone 5, Obama 2, Recovery -1.” Logistics sectors. Mark is widely
acknowledged as an industry thought
“Skilled, childless adults from Western Europe and America leader - clients have engaged him as
begin working remotely from countries with more favorable tax Speaker, Moderator or Chairman at
codes.” more than 200 industry events in 17
And it will be the Year of the Dragon…will this be the year we countries and his articles on global
see China positively take the high road, play good global citizen and supply chain trends and China
lead the world from the brink of economic disaster?....Or will it logistics are regularly published in five
more likely to claim itself as a developing nation, setting the languages. Mark is based in Hong
backdrop for a high-stakes trade and currency war not dissimilar to Kong and can be contacted on
telephone +852 9468 5295 or
the popular Hasbro board game ‘Risk’.
markm@logisticsexecutive.com
© 2012 LRS Group Pty. Ltd. All rights reserved! PAGE 1

2. CEO EXECUTIVE SERIES! 24 JANUARY 2012
From a Supply Chain
perspective, the
challenges are ramping
up with more
uncertainty and a
continued emphasis on
global markets. Volatile
challenges and
exceptions now seem to
be, what we have come
to know as the “new
normal”. Those big
‘global’ issues that are
well beyond our control
continue to influence
business. In 2012, it is
now a strategic
imperative and not an
operational reaction for
businesses to raise the
bar.
In Logistics
E x e c u t i v e ’s a r e a o f Findings &om Logistics Executive’s Global Employment Market Report
expertise, talent management, it
would seem that despite the professional. One that has taken identified that the percentage of
u n ce r t a i n a n d e v e n g l o o m y on the mantle of business leader, supply chain executives reporting
economic outlook, the demand responsible for providing directly to the CEO has risen
for supply chain talent is to competitive advantage by making from 30% to 68% from 2005 to
increase in 2012. companies agile through their 2010.
According to the Logistics strategic advantage. Business and financial
Executive’s 2011-2012 Global All of the signs for 2012 experience will be increasingly
Employment Market Report, we translate into more of a demand required for supply chain
reported that 58.1% of for supply chain professionals executives who are being
respondents indicated that they with a broader skills to tackle groomed for top management
expect to noticeably increase tomorrow’s business challenges. positions. Boards of directors
head count in 2012. Market Profitability is going to be the will look for business leadership
feedback would suggest that major challenge of 2012 according that can exploit complex supply
despite an economic softening to CEO’s in Logistics Executive’s chains to create value for
that has been seen as a result of 2011-2012 Global Employment customers and trading partners.
the Europe’s debt crisis and Market Report with 91% of CEO Analytical and modeling data
credit downgrades, employment respondents highlighting this as skills will be of focus as Exel
growth towards the second half one of their greatest challenges. spreadsheets no longer cut it in
of the year is expected to remain Margins are down, costs are up 2012 markets. The need for
strong, particularly in Asia. and wages demands remain. agility and a better understanding
The survey also revealed that Leadership – according to the of the supply network takes
62.5% of business leaders are Logistics Executive report more precedence, which means that
finding it harder to source quality that 77% of respondents professionals who are talented in
staff. An underpinning reason for indicated that this was a critical these areas will continue the
this is the expanding demands focus for 2012. This leadership trend of including predictive
being made of suppl y chain mantle will require a whole range analysis such as is being used in
professionals to either increase of soft and strategic skil ls. c u s to m e r s e r v i c e a n d s a l e s
their expertise or to add new Further supporting this is a functions to gain competitive
skills to their repertoire. survey from Gartner(2) that now advantage.
Without question, 2012 is the puts Supply Chain front and Commodity volatility: There
time for the emergence of a more center at the Executive will be a continued refinement of
sophisticated supply chain Leadership table. The report technology to manage
© 2012 LRS Group Pty. Ltd. All rights reserved! PAGE 2

3. CEO EXECUTIVE SERIES! 24 JANUARY 2012
commodity volatility as the cost of in social r e s p o n s i b i l i t y,
raw materials continues to communication and social media Logistics Executive
fluctuate. Professionals who are tools will increase. www.logisticsexecutive.com
w e l l e d u c a te d a n d h a v e t h e As an industry, Supply Chain Australia
expertise to lead in this area will is evolving as a highly educated Sydney
be in demand. sector. According to the Logistics Phone: +61 2 8262 9800
Emphasis on real-time Executive’s 2011-2012 Global
Melbourne
information through technology, Employment Market Report 88%
Phone: +61 3 9863 9488
people development and process of respondents had a degree or
improvement. With 83.5% of higher. However at all levels Asia
respondents in the Logistics furthering their skills remains a Shanghai
Executive’s 2011-2012 Global priority. Phone: +86 21 6427 6697
Employment Market Repor t At the top level Supply chain
Singapore
indicating that Productivity is one leaders will continue to hone their Phone: +65 6818 9745
of their greatest challenges in skills, as their function becomes Hong Kong
2012. more company general. Phone +852 3125 7654
In the search to refine a timely In the middle tiers, there will
India
and accurate fact based decision be a need for an increase in real-
Phone +91 22 4090 7053
making process and to manage the time focus with emphasis on
avalanche of data now have at systems, people management with Middle East
their disposal, supply chain a cross-cultural approach and United Arab Emirates - Dubai
executives are looking for a processes that will enhance this. Phone: +971 4 361 6275
systematic approach to adapt to At the functional levels a need New Zealand
new patterns using modeling. to train in new skills such as Wellington
Today’s real-time information and technology and communication Phone: +64 4 496 6730
not yesterdays plans are now the will be favored.
emphasis. The over-riding message is
As well as ERP systems there that volatility is a fact of life. As
will be a new demand for
For a copy of the 2011
industry continues to lean on
predictive analytics to work out supply chain leaders to manage -2012 Logistics Executive
profits. Supply Chain them through change, there will Global Employment
professionals and HR be huge opportunities for leaders
professionals will be emphasizing t a l e n te d i n a g i l i t y t h r o u g h
Report email:
skills in process redesign, change process and technology darrylj@logisticsexecutive.com
management, user training and improvement and leadership. If or
executive sponsorship to increase you combine these skills with a kimw@logisticsexecutive.com
company agility and deep supply chain skill base, the
competitiveness. oppor tunities become tr ul y
Social responsibility will exciting for supply chain Mr Kimble Winter
increasingly be emphasized. With professionals in 2012. Chief Executive Officer
globalisation and the increase in For a final glimpse into the Logistics Executive Group
community awareness, supply future, Gartner go on to predict The founder of the company,
chain executives will need to that by 2015, at least 25% of new Kim is an acknowledged specialist
factor the need for transparency C E O ’s at Fo r t u n e 500 in Executive Recruitment across
in their market responses. Logistics and Supply Chain sectors.
manufacturers will have a deep
He has held senior executive
Instead of pleasing board suppl y chain experience. A positions within international
m e m b e r s , t h e y w i l l n e e d to prediction we cannot help but Logistics, Supply Chain and Freight
expand this focus outward and concur. organisations during his 35 year
meet consumer group It would be interesting to hear career. Kim often speaks at
expectations. In the Logistics our readers’ predictions for 2012. international conferences / events
Executive’s 2011-2012 Global Drop us a line. and regularly contributes thought
Employment Market Report, leadership to industry media. He
86.76% of CEO’s and Directors 1 The Economist is an authoritative weekly newspaper has been involved in a number of
focusing on international politics and business news Disaster and Humanitarian
indicated that customer and opinion (www.economist.com)
Logistics initiatives and is the
satisfaction would be a major 2 Source: Gartner – Report: Predicts 2012: Supply
founder of not for profit
Chain Predictions November 2011. Gartner, Inc. is the
priority in 2012. Therefore skills world's leading information technology research and organisation www.oasisafrica.net.
© 2012 LRS Group Pty. Ltd. All rights reserved! PAGE 3