Itoham Yonekyu Holdings Inc. announced that Nakajima Yuko (中嶋祐子), Senior Managing Executive Officer in charge of Marketing, would resign effective 30 September. The designation “in charge of Marketing” will also be removed from the executive officer list effective 1 October.
Itoham Yonekyu Holdings Inc. announced that Nakajima Yuko (中嶋祐子), the Senior Managing Executive Officer who had been strengthening promotional activities against a backdrop of sluggish sales volumes, would resign at her own request. Her resignation is effective 30 September, and no clear details of the arrangements for her successor were included in the announcement made that day.
Nakajima is known as the former chief marketing officer of Kentucky Fried Chicken Japan (KFC). She promoted initiatives to encourage everyday consumption through campaigns such as “Why not have KFC today?” and is said to have contributed to the company’s recovery in performance. Itoham Yonekyu Holdings Inc. brought her on to draw on this experience and strengthen promotional activities as part of efforts to rebuild its processed foods business.
The company explained that the resignation was “at her own request.” Reports say that the inability to halt the decline in sales volumes was a factor in the resignation, despite expectations that the results of the intensified promotions would demonstrate the effectiveness of those initiatives. The company’s future organizational structure and promotional strategy will be closely watched.