A veritable chameleon is our John Burrows. Arthur Andersen's regional managing partner for Greater China and Australia flows seamlessly from one business environment to the next.
Mr Burrows knows that communication and understanding are the key to successful negotiating.
He was back home in Hong Kong yesterday promoting his company's global survey of asset-management companies and its outlook for the industry.
Why, a reporter asked, did Mr Burrows' role straddle two totally different markets - one emerging and one developed? 'I speak the language,' was the Aussie's reply.
'Putonghua?' asked the reporter, impressed.
'No,' said Mr Burrows. 'Australian.' We see the Valuejet crash has returned to the media spotlight as court proceedings get under way in the United States.
Once again, our screens fill with haunting images of clothing and wreckage being fished from an alligator-infested Florida swamp.
