Messages from External Directors and Audit ＆ Supervisory Board Members

Fast Retailing is expected to enjoy strong growth into the future. To help fulfill those expectations, I intend to ensure solid global risk management and offer advice from a broad range of viewpoints. I offer expertise on capital markets, and going forward, I will continue to judge Fast Retailing's corporate value objectively from a capital markets perspective and advise on the best measures for increasing shareholder value.

Fast Retailing is transforming into a digital consumer retail company by investing efficiently in the area of IT and accelerating internal efforts to convert analyzed data into knowledge. It is also earning greater recognition as a company that successfully employs technology from a social perspective. Fast Retailing is attracting talented IT employees to build frameworks for next-stage growth. I will support this process as an external director.

Our Board is well-balanced and boasts members with diverse business backgrounds. Everyone exchanges lively opinions and Mr. Yanai is always open to ideas. During my career as a senior manager, I learned that a company's frontline operations were paramount. I make casual visits to stores and listen to customer opinions. I also propose management improvements gleaned from my experiences as an individual consumer.

Fast Retailing is accelerating the development of global operations, and it will enjoy greater growth potential if it encourages employees from diverse backgrounds to take on more active roles. My task as a female, foreign-national external director is to advise on optimizing this potential. I draw on my experience in a securities company to help promote further growth and highlight capital markets and governance perspectives.

I intend to use my experience and expertise in construction to offer better proposals and advice on the building of sustainable next-generation stores that will meet future standards. That means envisioning the ideal future societal structure and determinedly balancing profit and sustainability, all while pursuing necessary steps based on future scenarios. As an external director, I want to support this kind of innovation at Fast Retailing.

I spent many years in the food industry, so the idea of LifeWear as a daily necessity resonates with me. I draw on the international management knowledge I acquired during postings to the USA and elsewhere in Asia. I want to help improve mediumto long-term corporate value at Fast Retailing, while also balancing the importance of new challenges with increasingly diverse global risks.

Companies with global operations often face unexpected challenges. As an external Audit & Supervisory Board Member, I take my function of supporting corporate growth seriously and also offer risk-mitigating advice from multiple angles. I will continue to do my utmost to build solid systems for the company from a fair and objective standpoint.

The stronger the opinion, the more attentively Mr. Yanai listens, so auditors and directors can always conduct open-minded discussions. With over 30 years' experience as a corporate restructuring consultant, accountant, and tax expert, I can advise on these matters and also offer suggestions on various issues that go beyond my external auditor remit.

The mission of the Audit & Supervisory Board is to carefully monitor appropriate decision-making processes, ascertain any risks that might hinder intended business plans, and check whether internal controls are in place. Fast Retailing is expanding rapidly in global markets, and I use my experience in global corporate management to help promote sustainable growth.