Fumiko Hayashi (mayor) - Private Sector Career

Private Sector Career

Fumiko Hayashi entered the workforce upon graduating from Tokyo Metropolitan Aoyama High School in 1965, working at Toyo Rayon (now Toray Industries) a Japanese textile company. She became a salesperson with Honday in 1977, when she was 31. It was rare for a woman in Japan to work for a car maker, particularly in a sales role. However, in her first year she was the top performing salesperson. After ten years at Honda, Ms. Hayashi sought a role with BMW Tokyo. Although initially turned down by the company she persisted, writing a seven-page letter to BMW Tokyo, explaining why she should be hired. In 1987, five months after her first approach, the company hired her. Within a month of joining BMW she was the top salesperson in Shinjuku, BMW Tokyo's key showroom. The company later asked her to run the company's weakest Tokyo showroom. She was subsequently headhunted by Fahren Tokyo, which became Volkswagen, to run its flagship dealership in Tokyo. The dealership's annual sales more than doubled during her four-year tenure. By 1999 Fumiko Hayashi had been appointed President of the company. In 2003 Hayashi returned to BMW Tokyo as President, in 2003.

Two years later Fumiko Hayashi moved from the car industry to retail, becoming Chairperson and CEO of The Daiei, Inc., a large Japanese retailer. Her next career move saw her return to the automotive sector as Operating Officer of Nissan, followed by her appointment as President of Tokyo Nissan Auto Sales in June 2008.