Stephen Hayes Dacus becomes first foreign CEO of 7-Eleven in Japan
Stephen Hayes Dacus was approved Tuesday to be the new chief executive of the operator of 7-Eleven, the first foreigner to lead the Japanese convenience store chain.
The American with a Japanese mother was appointed earlier this year to be chief executive of Seven & i Holdings Co., which operates the stores, known as 'konbini' in Japan.
An acquisition proposal by Alimentation Couche-Tard of Canada, which the company has so far rejected, was not up for vote at the shareholders' meeting. The companies are discussing the proposal and Seven & i is conducting an internal study.
Dacus has promised further growth for the business, which has been widening its overseas appeal. The 7-Eleven chain is the biggest convenience store chain in the U.S. But some analysts say there are challenges in the Japanese market, where the population is rapidly aging and competition is fierce among konbini brands.
Fluent in Japanese and English, Dacus previously worked at Walmart, Japanese clothing chain Uniqlo and other retailers. Shareholders appeared to have high hopes for his leadership and the rest of the new team that also won their approval. It remains unclear whether the company is going to go it alone or decide to collaborate with Couche-Tard.
The 7-Eleven stores in Japan sell everything from ice cream to batteries to health needs and hot meals. Some stores allow customers to pay utility bills or use the copier machine. They also work with local governments to help out during disasters, providing water, relief supplies, toilet facilities and emergency information.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Asahi Shimbun
20 minutes ago
- Asahi Shimbun
Japanese frigate arrives in Australia as Tokyo bids for defense deal
A mock model of the FFM "Upgraded Mogami" class is displayed during the Defense Security Equipment International (DSEI) Japan at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, east of Tokyo, Japan May 21, 2025. (REUTERS) NEWCASTLE, Australia--A state-of-the-art Japanese warship has arrived in Australia as part of a high-stakes campaign to secure a $6.5 billion contract to build the country's next fleet of general-purpose frigates. The JS Yahagi, a Mogami-class stealth frigate from Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force, is docked in Darwin in Australia's Northern Territory in what appears a symbolic and strategic move aimed at strengthening defense ties with Australia and showcasing Japanese naval technology. Japan's bid, led by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, was short-listed in November for the Royal Australian Navy's SEA 3000 frigate project and is competing against Germany's MEKO A-200 offered by Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems. The Australian Government will select a preferred design later this year, with construction for 11 new vessels slated to begin the following year. 'We will go through the process of assessing those bids, both very impressive. We intend to make a decision in relation to that this year,' Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles said during his visit to Indonesia last week. 'We intend to make a decision as quickly as we can, which means, before the end of this year.' As part of its military buildup, Japan is pushing to strengthen its largely domestic defense industry by participating in joint development, including a next-generation fighter jet with Britain and Italy, and promoting foreign sales like the Mogami-class ships. In a sign of its commitment and heavy investment Japan has pledged to prioritize the RAN's order over its own naval procurement. The project not only serves to further deepen cooperation between Japan and Australia but also to enhance Japan's warship capabilities, Defense Minister Gen Nakatani has said. The Japanese Mogami-class design boasts advanced combat systems, anti-submarine and anti-air warfare capabilities, and mine countermeasure operations — all operated by a lean crew of around 90, helping to address ongoing recruitment challenges in the Australian Navy. The vessel's commanding officer, Masayoshi Tamura, said the ship's smaller crew was an aim of the Mogami-class ship. 'The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force thought we need stealth, and less people, and a little bit smaller ship,' Tamura told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. The JS Yahagi's visit to Darwin comes amid intensifying strategic cooperation between Canberra and Tokyo, both of which have emphasized the importance of maritime safety and security of sea lanes. The frigate's arrival is also seen as a gesture of Japan's growing role in regional security and its desire to align more closely with key partners like Australia. In September 2024, Australia and Japan agreed to increase joint military training exercises to address shared concerns of China's incursions into Japanese airspace and territorial waters. Two months later, defense ministers from Australia, Japan and the U.S. held tripartite talks in Darwin to reaffirm their commitment to strengthening security ties and planning for joint military operations in northern Australia. Japanese marine units are also now included in annual training rotations of U.S. Marines in Darwin.
Kyodo News
an hour ago
- Kyodo News
Japan lags in closing gender gap: government report
KYODO NEWS - 22 minutes ago - 16:11 | Japan, All Japan lags many other countries in addressing gender inequality, particularly in raising the share of women in leadership positions, according to a government report released Tuesday. A task force led by Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to promote the U.N. sustainable development goals met at the prime minister's office the same day and reviewed the current status of efforts to close the gaps by 2030. Referring to the 2024 Global Gender Gap Index released by the World Economic Forum, in which Japan ranked 118th out of 146 economies and last among the Group of Seven nations, the government acknowledged that its efforts remain clearly insufficient. The index benchmarks the current state of gender parity across four key dimensions -- economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival, and political empowerment, according to the Swiss think tank. The Japanese government set a goal in 2003 to raise the share of women in leadership positions across fields such as politics and business to about 30 percent by 2020. But it later delayed the target to "the earliest possible time in the 2020s," as the proportion at major firms remains stuck in the low teens. The government report says it will step up efforts to advance gender equality by ensuring women have more opportunities to participate in decision-making across a range of fields. Gender equality and women's empowerment are among the 17 sustainable development goals adopted at a U.N. summit in 2015. Japan aims to lead in implementing the SDGs both at home and abroad. The government on Tuesday adopted its latest basic policy on gender equality and women's empowerment, with a focus on local economies and small businesses, amid a trend of female brain drain in rural areas. "We will advance our efforts to realize a society where everyone can live life to the fullest in their own ways," Ishiba said. The policy cited a lack of entrepreneurial role models and advisory resources outside major cities and pledged to build a support network for entrepreneurs. The government plans to create a database of professionals and dispatch experts to places in need nationwide through a new gender equality body slated for launch in fiscal 2026. Other measures include sexual harassment prevention training at firms investing in start-ups, advisory support for small- and medium-sized companies in rural areas to promote women into leadership roles, and initiatives to address the gender pay gap. Related coverage: Japan ranks 3rd worst place for working women in 2024 int'l ranking FEATURE: Pioneer in spotlight as women's presence grows in legal community Women make up 16% of executives in Japan's top-listed firms: study
Yomiuri Shimbun
an hour ago
- Yomiuri Shimbun
G7 Expected to Forgo Issuing Leaders' Declaration; Nations Seek to Avoid Highlighting Rifts with U.S.
Reuters Roadside turnouts are closed on the Trans-Canada highway ahead of the G7 meeting in Alberta, Canada, on Monday. Group of Seven nations are planning to forgo issuing a leaders' declaration at their summit in Kananaskis, Canada, according to Japanese government sources. Their aim is apparently to avoid highlighting the rifts between the United States and other G7 members, including Canada, the chair of the meeting, and Japan. The G7 summit will be held on June 15-17. It will be the first summit of the group for Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. If a declaration is not issued, it would be the first time since 2007. That year, only the chair's summary was produced. Following Russia's ouster from the Group of Eight industrialized countries in 2014, after Moscow annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula , declarations and other joint documents have been released by all G7 summits, including those during the first Trump administration. The Canadian government has not joined the efforts to compile a declaration at this stage, and preparations are underway to announce only outcome documents on specific themes such as the supply chain for critical minerals and artificial intelligence, on which Trump places great importance. The G7 has traditionally promoted free trade, but Trump has been strengthening protectionist moves. There are also gaps between the United States and other G7 countries over support for Ukraine, which is under invasion by Russia. 'Canada is taking a realistic approach,' a senior Japanese Foreign Ministry official said.
