Julie Hamp, who became Toyota's PR chief in April, was arrested in Tokyo today for allegedly bringing the narcotic oxycodone into Japan, according to the Associated Press.
Tokyo police arrested Hamp in her hotel suite after customs officials found the painkiller, which is illegal in Japan, in a package she sent to herself via airmail from the US.
Hamp, who is in custody, denies that she tried to import an illegal drug. Under Japanese law, suspects could be detained for up to 23 days.
Toyota, which is cooperating with authorities, issued the following statement: "We are confident, however, that once the investigation is complete, it will be revealed that there was no intention on Ms. Hamp's part to violate any law."
Hamp, who ran Toyota's PR in the US from a perch in California, is the first top female corporate executive for the Japanese automaker.
She also handled PR at PepsiCo and General Motors.
Business leaders will face challenges in the upcoming year, some of which will come as a complete surprise, or beyond anyone's imagination.
Teneo has hired Philipp Grontzki, who is a 20-year veteran of corporate communications and financial journalism, as a managing director in its strategy and communications group.
Rowan Benecke, who co-founded Zeno Group and helmed Burson-Marsteller's tech practice, has joined McKinsey & Co as director of communications for North America.
BCW has named Golin's Matt Coldagelli EVP and leader of its corporate affairs practice in Chicago.
Abby Bailey, who headed corporate communications for Fedex in its Middle East, India and Africa region, has joined Teneo as managing director in Dubai.
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