TOKYO, 2015-2-19 — /EPR Retail News/ — Lawson, Inc. (Head Office: Shinagawa Ward, Tokyo; President and CEO, Representative Director: Genichi Tamatsuka) has announced the following organizational and personnel changes effective March 1, 2015.
Organizational changes
We made this organizational changes to further strengthen focus on our stores and on each area strategy. Increasing the number of branches will enable us to respond to market needs in a speedy, efficient manner. We will further strive to listen and take in the innovative ideas arising from the front-line business and reflect them in our business initiatives.
Lawson introduced Branch Office Organizational System with seven Offices in 2003, and opened 76 Branches in 2011. With this area-focused, region-based organization, we have tried to meet the customer needs of each community. We will build on this Branch Office Organizational System and will expand the number of Branches from 75 to 92 in order to strengthen the area management strategy. The changes are made to better support our franchisees to improve their store management and operation, and ensure timely execution of business strategy.
The organizational changes will be made as follows:
- 1) Changes in the Business Divisions and Operation Divisions
- Reorganization of Store Operations Department
We will reorganize the Store Operations Department from 8 to 12 departments to strengthen our store operations management. - Establishment of Franchisee Operation Support Division and Area Support Department
To consolidate several supporting functions of different departments to a single organization, we will establish Franchisee Operation Support Division in our Headquarters and Area Support Departments in 8 regions. They will undertake functions such as managing energy-savings project and plan investment on existing stores in order to strengthen support to the franchisees. - Establishment of Sales Strategy and Marketing Division
Sales Strategy and Marketing Division will be newly established and will work as a liaison between Store Operations Division and Merchandising Division. This organization will be responsible for creating sales strategy and implementing marketing plan and will focus to ensure better communication between franchisees and headquarters. - Reorganization of Branches
We will increase the number of branches from 75 to 92 in order to better support our franchisees through deeper engagement and more intensive communications in each area.
- 2) Changes in the Corporate Divisions of the Headquarters
- We will change the organizational name of “Office” to “Division.” Corporate Management Office will be Finance & Accounting Division, Human Resources Office will be Human Resources Division, and Franchisee Support Office will be Franchisee Business Support Division.
(Effective as of March 1, 2015)
| New Position : | Member of the Board ―Compliance & Risk Management and Human Resources, Executive Vice President, Division Director of Franchisee Business Support Division |
| Current Position : | Member of the Board ―Compliance & Risk Management and Human Resources, Executive Vice President |
| New Position : | Senior Vice President, Division Director of Sales Strategy and Marketing Division |
| Current Position : | Senior Vice President, Region Director of Kanto South Lawson Office |
| New Position : | Senior Vice President, Executive Assistant to CEO |
| Current Position : | Senior Vice President, Region Director of Kinki Lawson Office |
| New Position : | Senior Vice President, Executive Assistant to CEO, Deputy Division Director of Sales Strategy and Marketing Division |
| Current Position : | Senior Vice President, Neighborhood Project Leader |
| New Position : | Senior Vice President, Deputy Division Director of Franchisee Business Support Division |
| Current Position : | Senior Vice President, Division Director of Quality Control Office |
| New Position : | Senior Vice President, Division Director of Store Operations Division and Division Director of Management Owner Promotion Division |
| Current Position : | Senior Vice President, Deputy Division Director of Store Operations Division and Division Director of Management Owner Promotion Division |