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When the Same Scorecard Punishes Everyone: Rethinking How You Benchmark Overseas Subsidiaries
Most multinationals benchmark overseas subsidiaries with the same KPIs used at headquarters. It feels consistent. It produces the wrong diagnosis.
A local P&L in Asia Pacific wins through customer access, partner discipline, and market speed — not enterprise platforms and pricing corridors. Mixing the two creates metric gaming, misplaced accountability, and decisions that never get made.
The fix isn't better data. It's a smarter framework.

Friedhelm Best
4 days ago11 min read


How market insights helped us boost sales performance
Market insights don’t increase sales by adding activity, they sharpen relevance. In the case outlined, deeper analysis revealed where demand truly existed, enabling a shift in targeting, messaging, and timing. Instead of broad efforts, sales actions became precise and customer-focused. This alignment improved conversion rates and resource efficiency, showing that insight-driven decisions consistently outperform intuition-led sales approaches.

Friedhelm Best
Mar 205 min read


Key Responsibilities of an Interim CEO in APAC: What You Need to Know About Interim CEO Responsibilities
When companies in Asia Pacific face leadership gaps, an Interim CEO can be a decisive advantage. This article explores the core responsibilities of an Interim CEO in APAC,from stabilising organisations and driving strategic initiatives to navigating cultural complexity and regulatory diversity. It also highlights how experienced Interim CEO support German Mittelstand in APAC by bridging cultures, accelerating market entry, and ensuring operational continuity during critical t

Friedhelm Best
Feb 126 min read


Overseas Subsidiary in Trouble? How CEOs Intervene in Asia Pacific
When an overseas subsidiary in Asia Pacific underperforms, CEOs face tough decisions under time pressure. This article shows how leaders intervene effectively using temporary leadership models such as interim executives, internal secondments, or task forces. Based on real APAC cases, it outlines warning signs, decision logic, and practical options to stabilize performance before problems escalate.

Friedhelm Best
Jan 157 min read


Unveiling the Benefits of Operational Excellence
Operational excellence is more than a buzzword – it’s a mindset that transforms how companies operate. This article explains what operational excellence really means and why it is critical for German Mittelstand companies expanding into Asia Pacific, highlighting efficiency, quality, agility, and sustainable growth through practical examples.

Friedhelm Best
Dec 17, 20255 min read


Transformative Strategies for International Organizations
Expanding into Asia Pacific demands more than duplicating home‑market strategies. Success requires cultural sensitivity, regulatory awareness, and agile operations. With the right transformative strategy, strong leadership, and targeted interim management support, companies can navigate complexity, accelerate transformation, and achieve sustainable international growth.

Friedhelm Best
Nov 19, 20255 min read


The Importance of Cross-Cultural Strategies in Business: Cross-Cultural Business Insights
Expanding into Asia Pacific offers growth for German SMEs, but success requires cross-cultural strategies. Understand local cultures, adapt communication, build trust, and localize products. A cross-border interim manager accelerates market entry and bridges cultural gaps. Overcome barriers with expert support, audit culture, and invest in partnerships for innovation and sustainable growth.

Friedhelm Best
Oct 17, 20255 min read


Interim Executive vs Fractional Leadership vs Consultants
This guide shares real-world insights from two decades as an interim and fractional leader in APAC, explaining when temporary executive solutions—interim management, fractional leadership, consultants, and advisors—are best. It covers scenarios like transformation, crisis management, and cross-border operations. Created by Friedhelm Best, Founder of BEST-inter APAC, Cross-Border Interim Executive and Fractional Leader based in Asia.

Friedhelm Best
Sep 17, 202522 min read


Interim Management in Asia Pacific: Your Key to Success
Interim Management in Asia Pacific: Deploy experienced leaders when your own resources aren't available. Learn how interim management international solves critical gaps in your operations abroad - from General Manager roles to restructuring and transformation projects. Discover why German Mittelstand companies choose interim managers for rapid deployment, local market expertise, and access to qualified candidates across Asia, as Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Austr

Friedhelm Best
Aug 15, 202515 min read


Internationalization in Asia: Unlocking Growth Opportunities for Mid-Sized Companies
The internationalization of mid-sized companies in Asia offers tremendous growth potential but is complex and risky. Over 60% of expansion projects fail due to insufficient preparation, as well as cultural and regulatory challenges. A structured strategy based on seven success factors – from market analysis to on-site interim management – is crucial for sustainable success and risk mitigation.

Friedhelm Best
Jul 18, 20253 min read


Post-Merger Integration in Asia: What Role Do Interim Managers Really Play?
Up to 70% of Private Equity deals in Asia-Pacific fail to achieve their Post-Merger Integration (PMI) goals due to cultural misalignment, talent loss, and IT complexity. Unlike traditional consulting, interim managers take operational ownership and improve success rates by 35%. Friedhelm Best, Interim Manager at BEST-inter APAC, supports companies across Asia-Pacific in driving successful PMI and creating sustainable value.

Friedhelm Best
Jun 18, 20255 min read


Internationalization in the Mittelstand: 5 Phases to Successful Expansion
Discover the five phases of internationalization for SME / Mittelstand companies, emphasizing the importance of strategic planning, cultural understanding, and leveraging the Asia Pacific market for expansion. Learn how interim managers and tailored strategies can help businesses navigate global growth successfully. Friedhelm Best, Interim Manager at BEST-inter APAC, supports companies in Asia Pacific for their internationalization.

Friedhelm Best
May 16, 20255 min read


How Sales Operations Strategy Transformed Struggling Sales Team into Top Performers
In the competitive B2B global sales landscape, inefficient sales teams and lack of support for account managers hinder business growth. Effective sales operations can increase productivity by 20-30%. This article outlines common pain points and provides a proven playbook for implementing sales operations, including a case study of a process automation company. Friedhelm Best, Interim Manager at BEST-inter APAC, supports Mittelstand companies n Asia Pacific to implement Sales

Friedhelm Best
Apr 14, 20255 min read


Restructuring Your Asian Subsidiary - How it works
Guide to successful restructuring of companies abroad, such as in the Asia-Pacific region, through a task force with local interim managers.

Friedhelm Best
Mar 16, 20254 min read


How to Shift from Product Sales to Solution Selling in B2B Markets
As buyers increasingly expect value-based interactions, product-centric sales models are losing impact and driving commoditization. This blog post explains why solution selling has become essential for differentiation - especially in Asia Pacific. It highlights the cultural and organizational shift required, from upskilling sales teams to redefining pricing and value propositions, and shows how solution and value selling drive higher win rates and sustainable growth.

Friedhelm Best
Feb 17, 20254 min read
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