Julie Hamp, Toyota's first female managing officer, resigned from her position on Wednesday after being arrested last month in Japan. She was taken into custody on suspicion of illegally importing Oxycodone, a prescription drug in the U.S., into Japanese soil after she was relocated to Tokyo.
Hamp's high position in the company was part of Toyota's drive to diversify its executive corporate structure. Toyota's higher echelons have remained relatively male-dominated and mostly Japanese thus far, according to Reuters.
Toyota accepted Hamp's resignation after considering the concerns of the company's stakeholders. The company has been relatively restrained about the incident however, due to an ongoing investigation.
"...We intend to learn from this incident to help ensure a secure working environment for everyone at Toyota around the world as we continue to take the steps necessary to become a truly global company," Toyota announced in a statement, according to BBC News. "We remain firmly committed to putting the right people in the right places, regardless of nationality, gender, age and other factors."
Hamp is accused of illegally importing 57 tablets of Oxycodone in a package labeled "necklaces" that was addressed to herself. The drug can only be brought into Japan if it is hand-carried by a person with a legitimate prescription.
Toyota President Akio Toyoda held a news conference after Hamp's June 18 arrest, extending his apologies on behalf of the company. He also said that Hamp had not intentions of breaking Japanese law.
