FILE - In this July 17, 2015 file photo, Toyota Motor Corp.'s head of public relations Julie Hamp speaks during a press conference in Toyota, central Japan. Toyota said Wednesday, July 1, 2015, the US executive arrested in Japan on suspicion of drug law violations has resigned. (Tsutomu Agechi/Kyodo News via AP, File) JAPAN OUT, CREDIT MANDATORY (The Associated Press)
TOKYO – Toyota says Julie Hamp, who was arrested in Japan last month on suspicion of drug law violations, has resigned as managing officer. She was the most senior female executive ever at the Japanese automaker.
Toyota Motor Corp. issued a statement Wednesday saying it had accepted her resignation, considering the troubles the arrest had caused stakeholders.
Hamp, a 55-year-old American and Toyota's newly appointed head of public relations, was arrested June 18 on suspicion of importing oxycodone, a narcotic pain killer, into Japan. The drug is tightly controlled in Japan.
Toyota declined to disclose other details, noting the investigation was still ongoing.
Her appointment in April had been highlighted with much fanfare as a step toward promoting diversity. Toyota reiterated that it remained committed to diversity.
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