ANNnews
26 June 2025
For those who don’t know me, my name is Juan Pedro Santamaría, and I’ve been working at Aernnova for 25 years now.
Over this time, I’ve had the opportunity to work in several departments: Tooling Design, Design, Stress Analysis, Processes, R&D, and, in recent years, Programs. My journey has taken me mainly through the offices in Madrid and Illescas, although for the past four years, my assignment has been a bit farther away: China. Specifically, I work for Aernnova Aerospace Equipment Suzhou, and for the past three years, I’ve been living in the fascinating city of Shanghai.
Shanghai, on China’s east coast, is a true urban giant—comparable in size to the Madrid region, but with a population exceeding 24 million people. To put it into perspective, that’s like squeezing half the population of Spain into one city. The terrain is completely flat, crisscrossed by the Huangpu River and a network of canals that give some neighbourhoods a vaguely Venetian feel. Here, you’ll also find the busiest commercial port in the world, which gives you an idea of the pace at which this city moves.
Life in Shanghai is a constant mix of contrasts: spotless cleanliness, ultra-modern infrastructure, the world’s largest metro network, and—what surprises most people—an exceptional level of safety. You can walk around at any hour of the day without worry. That said, getting around the city can turn into an adventure. Not for lack of options, but because it’s so vast that it can take up to three hours to cross from one side to the other, even by metro. And if you dare to drive… may God be with you. Traffic jams here are legendary, especially during peak hours.
Professionally, working in China is as enriching as it is challenging. Negotiating with Chinese companies means understanding deep cultural differences. One of the key concepts is guanxi, which goes far beyond the concept of networking as we know it in Europe. Here, building a personal relationship of trust comes before any business talk. In our country, we’re more direct: meetings, objectives, results. In China, that’s not the case. A meal can last three hours and cover everything except the contract. But once guanxi is established, that relationship becomes a bond of loyalty that is priceless.
Hierarchy is also very pronounced. Important decisions are made at the top, which can slow down processes. And communication… well, let’s just say that hearing a direct “no” is rare. Indirect communication, which aims to avoid losing mianzi (face, reputation), can lead to misunderstandings if you’re not used to it. However, once you learn to read between the lines, it all starts to make sense.
My daily agenda changes from one day to the next. My main responsibilities involve business development with major OEMs like COMAC, AVIC, and Airbus China, as well as liaising with potential strategic partners. I also coordinate and supervise our subsidiaries in Suzhou and Shanghai, and represent Aernnova in various commercial forums and aerospace industry events across China. We also work closely with Basque Trade & Investment in China, whose Shanghai office helps us connect with local companies.
For about a year now, I’ve also been collaborating with Aernnova’s Supply Chain team, specifically in Korea, where we’re involved in supplying stringers for the Évora plant, in the Embraer E2-190, E2-195, and KC-390 programs. This means I regularly travel to Sacheon, just over an hour and a half by plane from Shanghai. There, we hold meetings with KAI and suppliers, always aligned with the directives of the Supply Chain team and the production needs of Évora.
But the road hasn’t always been smooth. My arrival in Shanghai was, let’s say, unique: I landed the very same day the COVID lockdown began. I spent weeks confined in hotels and eventually returned to Spain. Months later, I came back—facing quarantine and a city under strict restrictions, with constant PCR tests. All in perfect Chinese, of course. Fortunately, I had the unwavering support of our HR team, for which I’m sincerely grateful.
Although I’m currently the only Aernnova representative based in China, I want to emphasize that this role is, above all, a team effort. The support of the various departments and individuals within the organization has been essential in allowing me to carry out my work here.
To all of you who have contributed in one way or another: thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Balancing this experience with family life has not been easy. However, my wife has been able to join me for extended stays, thanks to the flexibility of her job in Spain. Those visits make the distance more bearable and allow us to enjoy what Shanghai has to offer together: from restaurants representing every corner of the world to sunset strolls along the Bund or weekend getaways to Hangzhou or Suzhou, two gems that look like they came out of a traditional Chinese painting.
In short, living and working in Shanghai means diving into a different world—full of challenges and opportunities—where every day is an intensive lesson in adaptability, patience, and open-mindedness. It’s also a unique opportunity to represent Aernnova in one of the most promising regions on the planet. And while I do sometimes miss some good tapas or hearing Spanish in the streets, I have to admit that each day here enriches me both personally and professionally. And that, without a doubt, is worth it.
