Great expat-ations: Bill Valentino, 58, American

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-10-15 09:28

Why China?

After living in Germany for nine years, it was time to go back to school and get an MBA and my next career move. I started to look beyond Europe and decided to work in Asia. Nobody at that time was going to China for professional reasons! I saw the future staring at me and I decided to go.

In 1981 I went to Beijing for the first time. Everything clicked and I started planning my future here. I liked the people, the culture, the language, the challenges and the adventures it offered.

In 1987 I moved to Beijing as the Chief Rep for Bayer with my wife and daughter. I was the first expat for Bayer in China for many decades. An American who could speak German and Chinese and crazy enough to move to Beijing perfectly matched their needs.

Doing what?

I work for Bayer China a subsidiary for Bayer AG in Germany. My current position is VP Corporate Social Responsibility in China. A position I was instrumental in creating to take CSR out of the hype and PR mindset and making it a more strategic business investment with an emphasis on planet, people and profits.

It is the only position with this title that exists at Bayer globally and I am happy to be the pioneer for the company in this area. I became very involved in the academic side of Communications, CSR and sustainable development and have been appointed an Adjunct Professor at Tsinghua University in the School of Journalism and International Communications.

Since 2003 I have been working closely as a teacher and a co-director of a public health media studies program with the dean of the school and my mentor professor Li Xiguang.

How good is your Chinese?

My mother tongue is English, closely followed by German. I also speak Italian and some French. My Chinese is pretty fluent.

Relationship?

I have been married for 31 years with my wife Stella, she is from Hong Kong and we have a daughter Vanessa, 28 and a son Gian Marco, 15.

We met in Hong Kong in a Chinese restaurant where I feigned not knowing how to use chopsticks to start a conversation with her. A love affair over many miles that worked out very well.

Food?

I eat everything, except fried liver. My great loves are Italian and Chinese food. I love Beijing food like Zajiangmian and jiaozi.

I can eat hot and spicy but love the sweet, sour and vinagery tastes that other regions of China have to offer.

Money?

I am satisfied but have seen the status of expat salaries and perks steadily slide downwards over the years. I think I am better off than anywhere else but I would like to have a greater ability to support some of the causes and issues that I am very passionate about - HIV/AIDS prevention and care, disability, children's issues, mental health, environmental issues, rural development and education, to name a few.

What does the future hold?

I look forward to stay in China for many more years. I see teaching, working on the issues I am passionate about, possible consulting and even new innovative ideas looming on the horizon.

I feel dynamic and constantly busy here in China and find myself achieving many things on many different levels. Working hard to make a difference and enjoying family, friends and just life overall.

I want to continue to be an active player in this incredible development in China through my work and networks that contribute to a better life for many people.

I guess I am asking China the same I am asking of my wife - "Come grow old with me, the best is yet to be."