Toyota's Top Female Executive Resigns
Toyota’s global public relations director has resigned.
Julie Hamp was arrested two weeks ago for allegedly importing prescription drugs into Japan. She currently remains incarcerated in the country, where the law allows a suspect to be detained for up to 23 days without charges. The Japanese automaker has released a statement concerning Hamp, saying that it has “accepted her resignation after considering the concerns and inconvenience that recent events have caused our stakeholders.”
According to reports, Hamp was arrested on June 18 for importing oxycodin into Japan, where there are extremely strict anti-drug laws. She allegedly placed the drugs inside a jewelry box and shipped it to herself from the U.S.
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Although she has not been formally charged, there is a possibility that if she is prosecuted and found guilty, she could face up to 10 years in jail.
Hamp joined Toyota in 2012 when she was named chief communications officer for North America after holding senior positions at PepsiCo and General Motors.
“I am looking forward to joining the talented communications team at Toyota, a company known for high quality products, best-in-class manufacturing and innovation,” said Hamp at the time of her hiring. “Toyota has a significant presence in North America, employing more than 37,000 people and operating 14 manufacturing plants in the region; and I am excited to take on this role to help contribute to the success of this great company.”
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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Well, if she was so clever why she did not research about the drag law in Japan. Japan is one of the most strict country for the drags law. A lot of drags that are sold in U.S. can be illegal drags in Japan without proper prescription by the doctor. But this case seems like she was knew about it but she didn't ask her doctor to write a prescription. Eventually she let her father to put 57 pills into a jewelry box nice and neat and put several jewelries on the top of them and sent to her hotel in Tokyo. Of course the description of the parcel said just "Jewelries". Though it was huge mistake as "Jewelries" is subject to duty item so that the officer needed to open the box and check inside for the purpose. Apparently, it was found out without proper prescription attached nor description on the parcel. Her guiltiness is not a drag usage, is illegal import of the regulated drags into Japan. She should have brought her "pain killer" when she fly to Japan or just ask her father to send the drag with proper description. Such a disappointing.
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