YOKOHAMA, Japan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mayor of Yokohama Fumiko Hayashi has received a special tribute from US entrepreneur Jim Thompson to celebrate the founding of his company Crown Worldwide in the Japanese city exactly 50 years ago.
Mr Thompson launched the business in 1965 – the same year that Mayor Hayashi began her own business career in Tokyo after graduating from high school.
Since then he has grown Crown Worldwide into the largest private logistics company in the world (www.crownworldwide.com), headquartered in Hong Kong and boasting a turnover of more than 800m USD.
As a gesture of appreciation to the city which inspired that remarkable story, Mr Thompson visited Mayor Hayashi and presented her with a specially-designed Happi coat that incorporates a ginkgo leaf design, a symbol of longevity in Japan.
He also presented an exclusive art work painted by seven-year-old Barbora Mrvisova of the Slovak Republic for the Kids Earth Fund, a charity that raises money to help children who suffer from the result of war, poverty and environmental contamination. The money donated for this artwork will go to a school in Cambodia that supports children with HIV.
Jim Thompson said: “Yokohama is the spiritual home of Crown Worldwide and we wanted to mark our anniversary not just by celebrating the first 50 years but also by saying thank you to the city where it all started.
“I have always had a special feeling about Japan and it is a place close to my heart. So it was an honor to meet Mayor Hayashi who co-incidentally began her own remarkable business career in 1965, and to celebrate our anniversary together.”
Mr Thompson was accompanied by his daughter Jennifer Harvey, Director of Corporate Social Responsibility at Crown Worldwide, who was born in Japan and acted as interpreter during the visit.
Crown Worldwide now provides transportation, relocation services, logistics and storage services from 265 locations in some 60 countries. Its stable of brands includes Crown World Mobility, Crown Relocations, Crown Fine Art, Crown Records Management, Crown Logistics and Crown Wine Cellars.
Mr Thompson added: “I am very proud of what has been achieved at Crown Worldwide. To be able to develop into a global company from our very, very small beginnings with little capital is just a wonderful achievement. I really share that with all the people who got us there – including some very special people in those early days in Yokohama. It is a fantastic city in which to do business, and one that harbors a real entrepreneurial spirit.”
Mayor Hayashi said: “I want to say congratulations on the 50th anniversary of the founding of Crown Worldwide. I am honored that the occasion coincides with the 50th year of my business career and grateful for the company’s special thoughts about Yokohama, especially as it started here and has grown to prominence in the logistics industry. I am pleased to see it supports in diverse ways those who are active beyond national borders, making various contributions to society. In Yokohama, there are many young people and companies who desire to step out and become active abroad, as Crown Worldwide did. The city encourages and advises them on studying abroad, starting a business, and business management. As a model for them – on this, the 50th anniversary of its founding – I hope Crown Worldwide will continue to grow and prosper.”
Mayor Hayashi is the first female mayor of Yokohama, elected in 2009, and is regarded as one of the most influential women in Japan. Her previous roles have included president of BMW Tokyo, president of Tokyo Nissan Auto Sales, chairperson and CEO of the Japanese supermarket chain Daiei.
Notes to editor:
Crown Worldwide Group (www.crownworldwide.com) operates from more than 265 locations in nearly 60 countries. Crown Worldwide's divisions include Crown Records Management, Crown Relocations, Crown World Mobility, Crown Fine Art, Crown Logistics and Crown Wine Cellars. Established in 1965, the Crown Worldwide Group is a privately held company with global headquarters in Hong Kong.
