If 2009 proved a year the world economy would rather forget, 2010 brings measured optimism for corporate growth across Europe, The Middle East and Africa.

In many ways, the global economic recession has wiped the slate clean for many institutions – and individuals – across Asia. Business leaders intoxicated by the idea that their enterprises would ride the fortunes of high growth national and regional

Like many other regions impacted by the global economic crisis, investors and business executives across Latin America have been forced to recalculate expectations of return on investment and corporate earnings.

Where will tomorrow’s leaders come from?

For companies on every continent, the answer to that simple question remains elusive and starkly sobering. Yet the question itself speaks volumes about the biggest single challenge to the sustainability of corporate performance, productivity and profitability for many years to come – and to the lingering uncertainty about how to meet it head-on.

Hiring companies that understand the recruitment of senior business leaders is a two-way street, will be in the best position to compete in increasingly global war for executive management talent that is now beginning to unfold.