In 2009, Nadeem Shamim left London to work for Standard Chartered Bank in Hong Kong. Although eager to make his mark in a new role, his enthusiasm was tempered by sadness. Unable to obtain the necessary visa to accompany him, his partner Peter, a web-marketing professional, was staying behind in Britain.
The couple spent the next two years shuttling between Asia and Europe, working one week in every six from each other’s location. Despite the diary juggling, the jet-lag and separations, Mr Shamim counts himself fortunate that he had a considerate boss who encouraged him to work flexibly. “Without [regular] contact, I think the relationship would have ended. It was tough . . . but we managed.”
Run-ins with visa authorities are one of a number of vexations familiar to gay and lesbian executives who work internationally. While many global corporations say they treat all employees equally, the countries in which they do business often differ hugely in their acceptance of same-sex relationships, making company-wide equality pledges hard to fulfil.