APAC Is Rising. So Is the Competition for Its Leaders.
In a year defined by disruption, one region has become impossible for manufacturers and multinationals to ignore. Asia-Pacific is where the world makes things, where growth is happening, and increasingly, where the most consequential leadership decisions are being made.
The World’s Current Growth Engine
Asia and Oceania now account for 57% of global manufacturing value added, according to UNIDO. IMF data shows Asia-Pacific delivering nearly 60% of global GDP growth, and even after factoring in this year’s energy shock, the IMF projected regional growth of 4.4% for 2026, calling Emerging Asia the “main global growth engine.”
Resilience has become the priority. Between shifting US tariffs and the Hormuz crisis, which has choked energy supply to a region that receives about 80% of the LNG passing through the strait, supply chain resilience is now a board-level issue. Rather than abandoning Asia, manufacturers are rebalancing within it, spreading production across China, Vietnam, India, Thailand, and beyond, and building regional leadership teams to run it.
The result is more manufacturing plants, more supply chains, and more P&L responsibility sitting in Asia-Pacific than ever before. All of it needs top executive leadership.
What We Are Seeing
In our 1H26 review, we noted a rise in APAC activity, led by renewed interest in China. That trend has only accelerated. Over the past 12 months, TXT International has seen a 10X increase in APAC searches.
Our clients are looking for leaders who can operate effectively in complex markets, combining local knowledge with global commercial standards. Those leaders are in short supply.
Why APAC Is So Difficult to Recruit In
- The talent market is tight. ManpowerGroup’s 2026 survey found that 84% of employers in Japan and 82% in India struggle to fill roles, among the highest rates in the world.
- Multicultural leaders are rare. Multinationals need executives with local language, relationships, and cultural fluency who can also meet the governance and reporting expectations of a global HQ. Few candidates offer both.
- APAC is a massive and diverse market. It spans dozens of languages, legal systems, and business cultures. A search in Tokyo, Shanghai, and Mumbai is really three different searches.
- The best candidates are rarely the most active in the market. Senior talent is overwhelmingly passive, and in markets like China, the professional platforms Western recruiters rely on have limited reach.
Why TXT International Is Built for This
- Global, data-driven research that maps talent markets far beyond any single network, reaching passive executives quickly and discreetly.
- Diaspora reach. Some of the strongest candidates for Asian roles are Asian nationals working in Europe or North America who are open to returning home. Our global model is built to find them.
- Speed. With candidate slates within one week of launching a search.
- A risk-conscious model. On most searches, no fee is due unless we fill the role, so exploring leadership in an unfamiliar market doesn’t require a large upfront commitment.
- A proven track record. More than 1,500 executive placements, with candidates sourced across more than 180 countries.
A Sample of Senior APAC Roles We Recently Placed
- APAC President – Chemicals – China
- South Korea Country Manager – Apparel – South Korea
- VP APAC – Building Materials (PE) – India
- CHRO CoE – Financial Services – India
- VP Aftermarket – Industrial Manufacturing (PE) – Singapore
If Asia-Pacific features in your growth, sourcing, or resilience plans, we would be glad to share what we are seeing across the region. Get in touch below, and we can set up a time to talk.
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Talk to us
Have any questions? We are always open to talk about your executive hiring needs, challenges, and opportunities, and discuss how we can help you.