TOKYO — Julie Hamp, the worldwide communications government who broke the glass ceiling at Toyota Motor Corp. solely to be arrested in Japan and despatched to the U.S., is again on the world’s largest automaker, this time as a particular media adviser to President Akio Toyoda.
Hamp returned to Toyota Motor Corp. efficient June 20, Toyota North America stated in an inner announcement seen by Automotive News. She will assist Yumi Otsuka, chief sustainability officer, and report on to Chief Communications Officer Jun Nagata and Chris Reynolds, government vp of company sources at Toyota Motor North America.
She may also be “senior media advisor” to the corporate’s world boss, Toyoda.
“In this role, Julie will work with the TMC President’s office to develop communications strategies and messages across all forms of media, including TMC’s owned media, to help achieve business objectives,” Toyoda stated within the June 21 company discover.
It wasn’t instantly clear whether or not Hamp shall be based mostly within the U.S., Japan or elsewhere.
Toyoda made waves in April 2015 by appointing Hamp because the Japanese juggernaut’s first feminine senior government — an American no much less — to supervise world communications from Toyota City. It was part of a serious diversification drive to inject contemporary perspective into the corporate at a time when Toyoda noticed the necessity to higher relate to abroad markets amid globalization.
But her tenure was minimize brief simply months later, along with her bombshell June 18 arrest for suspected violations of Japan’s drug legal guidelines. Her surprising arrest on the Tokyo resort the place she was nonetheless staying till she settled in despatched shock waves via Japan’s worldwide enterprise group.
Toyoda, who invited Hamp to Japan as the corporate’s first chief communications officer, defended her at an emergency press convention the next day saying: “In addition to being a close friend of mine, Julie Hamp is an invaluable member of Toyota’s team.”
While in jail, she resigned her publish on the firm.
On July 8 — after 20-day lockup — Hamp was launched from custody with out being formally charged of any crime and returned to the U.S. At the time, Japanese media reported prosecutors deliberate to launch her with out indictment, saying they discovered little legal intent within the case, during which a member of the family had allegedly mailed Oxycodone capsules to her to alleviate knee ache.
Like the arrest of former Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn years later, Hamp’s case shocked the auto business and shined a lightweight on a few of the peculiarities of Japan-style legislation and order.
Hamp began her profession within the automotive world giving manufacturing facility excursions at General Motors’ now defunct Buick City plant in Flint, Mich., and spent 20 years at GM. She then went on to change into the highest PR exec at PepsiCo Inc. earlier than first becoming a member of Toyota on its North American crew in June 2012.
Back within the U.S. following her arrest in Japan, Hamp rapidly rebuilt her profession.
She took advisory roles at Finsbury and the Hawksbill Group, and in 2019 was appointed chairman of Motus One, the fleet-management firm.
Japan has strict drug legal guidelines that always are at odds with these of the U.S. It is even unlawful to herald some over-the-counter medicine widespread within the U.S., comparable to sure allergy medicines.
Source: www.autonews.com
