Japan Airlines (JAL) has named its first female president, marking a major milestone in a nation struggling with a significant gender gap in the workplace. cnn reported.
Mitsuko Tottori, a seasoned executive who rose from a cabin attendant position since joining JAL in 1985, will take over as president on April 1, as announced in a statement Wednesday.
The move comes amid growing pressure on Japanese companies to improve gender diversity and address a gender pay gap that surpasses that of other Group of Seven countries.
“There are employees who are struggling with their career steps or going through big life events,” Tottori said at a news conference. “I hope that my appointment as president can encourage them or give them the courage to take the next step.”
The leadership transition aligns with the airline's efforts to recover from the pandemic-induced crisis, coinciding with the resurgence of tourists visiting Japan.
In particular, the airline's safety has come under renewed scrutiny following a recent incident at Tokyo's Haneda Airport involving a collision between a JAL aircraft and a Japanese Coast Guard aircraft.
Fortunately, all 379 passengers on the plane escaped when it caught fire.
Outgoing president Yuji Akasaka will assume the role of president while retaining the title of representative director, according to a statement from the airline.
Current president Yoshiharu Ueki is scheduled to retire in April and vacate the director's position pending shareholder approval in June.
JAL has set an ambitious goal for women to make up 30% of managers across the group by the end of the fiscal year ending March 2026.
