Now this is precisely what I was referring to in my last post where I called for Australia's mining and energy stocks to look to women in times of crisis...  Out of the current earthquake-cum-tsunami-cum-nuclear crisis in Japan is news this week from Tokyo that Sharp Corp has appointed the first female executive officer in the company's nearly 100-year history. 

Keiko Okada, a general manager who currently oversees the Japanese electronic maker's branding strategy as well as product planning and design, will become executive officer effective April 1, Sharp said in a press release.

Okada, who joined the company in 1978, has worked mainly in product planning and design throughout her career of over 30 years. After briefly heading the company's cooking appliances business, she became a general manager in charge of group-wide product planning and design in 2010, and added branding strategy to her responsibility later that year.

Established in 1912, Sharp manufactures liquid crystal panels and Aquos television sets, as well as a variety of other gadgets and home appliances... which of course women have the most influence over when it comes to purchases.

Good one Sharp... it's a step in the right direction to round out the week.