ANYONE who has spent the past 20 years climbing the corporate ladder in the hope of scoring the top job, be warned: you may already have missed the boat.

A few weeks ago, a 28-year-old was appointed to run Leroy Merlin France, one of the largest DIY chains in Europe owned by the reclusive Mulliez family. 

Agathe Monpays’ promotion stirred a fierce debate in French media. She could only have won the job thanks to connections with the family, suggested many commentators. Otherwise, why would a 28-year-old be put in charge of a company that employs about 30,000 people and generates close to 10 billion euros (S$14.5 billion) a year in sales?