Interviews – Financial – Walter Willigan

Walter L Willigan recently moved to PWC Europe from the firm’s New York office, to become director of licensing in the European intellectual asset management practice. Willigan was awarded the US Navy Commendation medal in 1962 for air missions over North Vietnam and Laos. He now lives on Vincent Square, Westminster, central London with his wife of 37 years, Betsy. They have four children, of whom three are married and one has recently become engaged

New title: director of licensing, European intellectual asset management, PWC Europe

Former-title: director, intellectual asset management practice, PWC, New York

Time in last job: 18 months

Date of birth: 27 October 1940, Brooklyn, New York

Reasons for changing Position?
To continue the work of assisting clients in leveraging their intellectual assets: patents, brands, know-how on a global basis. I also want to become more familiar with economic issues associated with the European Community, and the differing cultural activities. I like travelling.

What will you miss most?
Being close to the family back home.

What will you miss least?
Severe New England [Connecticut] winters.

What are you most excited about?
Wimbledon tennis, London theatre, and jogging along the Thames in the morning.

What are you least excited about?
Lack of air conditioning in the summer and tube failures.

What are your personal ambitions?
To make new friends and to visit as many cultural centres in Europe as possible. To assist clients in exploiting their intellectual assets: brands, patents, technology and know-how. To develop and transfer my skills to younger business colleagues.

What is the company’s future?
PricewaterhouseCoopers is on the leading edge of investing in new technologies and ideas that will enable our clients to grow and become mode competitive in this new century.

Pearls of wisdom?
Develop and communicate a strong set of values in both business and personal matters: integrity, honesty and compassion for others.

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