As companies become more global, the complexity of cross-culture attitudes, management and even regional laws has made the chief financial officer's job more difficult.

Speaking to IBTimes TV at the EIU CFO Summit, Saatchi & Saatchi's regional CFO in Asia-Pacific and Greater China, Johann Xavier, said that company success comes from greater diversity and it no longer means "West versus all the rest."

He also revealed how boardroom battles can be overcome by conflict management by "not letting it get personal."

"As businesses expand, understanding how to manage cross-cultural business relationships spans across many different areas, not just race and ethnicity," said Xavier.

"It includes more women in companies and rights for the disabled."

Above all, he said that the sea change in company culture needs to be by private sector investment and management and not by the government meddling with strict quotas and laws.