The need for high performing leaders is essential in all industries, all functional areas and all countries. While successful leaders share a common set of leadership competences, different skills are needed for certain functional areas just as certain industries can require leaders with particular personal characteristics. Leaders work within various organizational structures and boards are composed in different ways in different countries. What are the trends in leadership competences, internationalization, and demands on leadership teams and boards? And how open are companies to appointing external board directors in international subsidiaries? These are some of the issues we will be covering in our articles.