Multinational companies often have a need to communicate with someone who doesn't speak English well. I would prefer an employee who has enough basics to communicate nonetheless. Speaking multiple languages is equivalent to being both a mechanical and electrical engineer. I perceive both scenarios as requiring a tremendous amount of bandwith and discipline. Employees with bandwith and discipline are easier to hire, retain and promote than those who have demonstrated neither.
Business is a function of competence, respect, and integrity.
By knowing another language, one inherently learns another culture. If a customer has an option of buying a similar product from competing vendors, a tie goes to the one with whom the customer is most comfortable. As a former small business owner, i was more comfortable with those who at least knew my culture enough to respect it. Business decisions are not made solely by empirical models. It boils down to at least two people respecting each other enough to agree and mutually benefit.