I've been approached by a couple different recruiters to consider being a board member on 2-3 Chinese companies. A couple are already public, and the other is going that direction. All of them have strong 'suggestions' that they fill a board position with an experienced foreign exec.

I was suggested to both of them by the same person, and they've been talking with me about it. I don't need to quit my job, in fact it's a bonus I'm likely to be here for another 4-5 years. The big thing is that since I am a foreign face, and I speak Chinese, they don't need to have an interpreter at board meetings, but they still can show they have 'foreign inflence' on the board.

They are talking like annual stipends, and I could consider as many as FIVE (5) of this kind of position. Most are advisory, with no voting status on the main board. They say it would not impact my permanent employment at all.

Anyone ever done something like this? The attraction for me is that they say if I start doing this now, it could be a nifty little retirement gig, and that if/when international travel is reestablished, that my travel to and from board meetings would be inclusive.