More than 80 percent of the world's population resides in what is known as "emerging markets". This group of countries represents a diverse collection of economies from China to Peru and Ethiopia to Kazakhstan.

Despite gradual improvement since the summer of 2009 - the official end of the Great Recession - the U.S. unemployment rate remains unacceptably high. But don't tell that to companies in search of supply-chain talent.

Dana Stiffler, managing vice president with Gartner, explains why supply-chain talent sits at the top of executives' list of things that keep them up at night.

In promoting Troy Alstead from CFO and chief administrative officer to CFO and group president of global business service, Starbucks has elevated an officer with great experience in supply chain management as well as in finance.