A new management study from Amrop International provides insights into selecting senior managers to work successfully in Russia. It is believed to be the first in-depth report of this nature ever undertaken in the Russian working environment.

Carried out by executive search company, Amrop International Russia, the report says that top executives moving to the country face, "the realities of ineffective systems and procedures, dealing with intricate bureaucracies and struggling with contradictory legislation and underdeveloped or non-existent business infrastructure.
Detailed interviews with 35 top executives of multinational companies, each having an average of five years' experience of Russia highlight the special skills required to operate effectively. The report says that executives moving to Russia need to bring," their market mentality, know-how and technical expertise as well as organisation culture, discipline and work ethics." It says that this should be used to encourage local talent. "The use of human capital - both expatriate and local - is a powerful factor that makes the business machine run effectively," says the report.
Amrop found that for international businesses working in emerging markets there is an imbalance between the demand for, and availability of, experienced executives. The report says, however, "In the present unstructured and unstable Russian business environment the role of personality in business leadership is a crucial success factor."
The study also looked at a wide range of issues encompassing the challenges and pressures of management roles, local business culture factors, culture shock to personnel selection and development.

Better insights
The report provides a more detailed characterisation of the personal profile of potential candidates to fit senior roles. It hopes to make personnel selection procedures more efficient and to prepare executives to function more effectively in the Russian environment. For example, the report points out the importance of "a higher awareness of the cultural specific issues general managers face."
It also says that time and energy must be invested in team building processes in order for local talent to be encouraged.
Founded in 1977, Amrop International is one of the leading executive search companies world-wide with operations throughout Europe, Americas and Asia with 59 offices in 41 countries. It began its Russian activities in 1994.

For more information contact:
Ekaterina Kimpeläinen, Amrop International
22/25 Bolshoy Strochenovsky, Pereulok, 113045 Moscow
Tel: +7 095 797 5952, Fax: +7 095 797 5953par
E-mail: ekaterina.kimpelainen@amrop.com ; Internet: www.amrop.com