JAL stated in a statement that Mitsuko Tottori, a senior managing executive officer who joined the airline in 1985—the year it saw one of the deadliest crashes in its history—will take over as president on April 1.
In a nation that is still grappling with closing a significant gender gap in the workplace, Japan Airlines made history on Wednesday when it named its first female president. The woman was formerly a cabin attendant and worked her way up to senior management.
JAL stated in a statement that Mitsuko Tottori, a senior managing executive officer who joined the airline in 1985—the year it saw one of the deadliest crashes in its history—will take over as president on April 1.
The announcement of the appointment coincides with mounting pressure on Japanese businesses to increase gender diversity and address the country’s greatest gender pay gap—which is nearly twice as large as that of the OECD’s index of advanced economies—as well as gender inequality.
“There are female employees out there who are struggling with their career steps or going through big life events,” Tottori told a news conference.
“I hope my appointment as a president can encourage them, or give them the courage to take the next step.”
The move is being made as the airline works to recover from the decline caused by the virus and as travelers return to Japan.
After a collision this month at Tokyo’s Haneda airport between a JAL airliner and a Japanese Coast Guard aircraft, airline safety is receiving more attention. When the airliner caught fire, all 379 occupants managed to flee.
Tottori gained a “high level of insight and field experience” in safety operations and maintenance, according to JAL.
The airline said in a statement that Yuji Akasaka, the current president, will take on the role of chairperson in addition to maintaining his status as a representative director.
The current chairman, Yoshiharu Ueki, plans to retire in April and step down as a director in June, subject to shareholder approval.
By the end of the fiscal year that ends in March 2026, JAL wants to have 30% of its managers be women.
By March 2023’s end, the equivalent percentage was 22.8%.
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