Busy life, passion for work keep Chen happy

Interview with Thomas F Chen was quite impressive. His voice is low, but clear. He keeps smiling, but the eyesight turns sharp and his wording prudent when it comes to critical points. He does not talk a lot, but his answers are to the point and logic.

Chen said he has been much busier than before since he was promoted as president of Abbott Nutrition International in 2006. He usually got up in 4:30 am every morning, he works in the study room at home from 4:30 to 7 am, the only indisturbing period he has during a day to think of corporate short-term and long-term strategy and detailed plans and then sends emails to colleagues. In the morning, he has talks and meetings with staffs from different departments, research and development, sales and manufacturing. At noon, he has lunch alone in the office and reads some newspaper or magazines. In the afternoon, he visits clients or hosts visitors. At around 10 pm, he goes to sleep.

His favorite entertainment during the weekend is playing tennis. “It is not time consuming, but a good exercise to keep healthy,” he said.

When asked about what he is most proud of with himself, he said he is nothing but hard-working. “Money is not the goal. Passion comes naturally, but more importantly, for the mission in heart,” he said.

This is also his expectation on his colleagues, “I hope they could feel pride in working in Abbott Nutrition, feel pride to create a healthy life for people around. The pride then translates into their motivation in developing innovative products and services,” he said.

“I will do whatever I could to support them.”

(China Daily 04/06/2009 page12)