Former Wokingham Times man Andrew Batt is carving out a new career in the media in Thailand.

Until the beginning of last month, Andrew, (left), was chief photographer but he’s moved to the other side of the world as executive manager for the publishing company, Bangkok Station Network Co.

Prior to the move he had a wide background in the regional newspaper industry, having also been a sub-editor, deputy editor, sports editor, production editor and marketing manager within a number of newspapers and magazines during a 16-year career for Guardian Media Group, Haymarket Business Publishing and Cambria Magazine, the national magazine of Wales.

He said: “My new role is two-fold. Firstly I am looking after the English Language content of the existing English language publications produced by Bangkok Station Network, and secondly I am responsible for introducing the company to the outside world, especially with a view to acquiring licenses to produce existing publications, primarily magazines, in Thai for the local market.

“Life in Bangkok is interesting to say the least. The company I am working for is a small/medium sized publishing company with around 50 staff. I am the only English person they have ever employed, and apart from my Japanese chief executive officer all the staff are Thai.

“I have been here for little over a month now, and I am slowly getting used to the traffic, the heat, the humidity and the food. The working environment is pretty similar to a UK newsroom – although it does seem a lot more relaxed.

“The Thai people know how to separate their work life from their home life – and there is a very distinct line between the two.”

He said there was a need for English people with general media experience, especially at companies that had an element of English in their titles.

There was also a need for English teachers – with the Thai government keen for its citizens to learn English.

He said: “I’ve even been asked to help a small group of staff here with their English before we start work every morning.

“The staff here are great and after the natural shyness of the first few days had worn off they were all more than happy to come and talk to me. I am certainly not treated any differently, if anything I am considered a bit of a coup because not many publishing companies out here have native English people working for them.”