Hayakawa appointed Bank of Japan executive director

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TOKYO, March 3 (Reuters) - Hideo Hayakawa has been appointed executive director of the Bank of Japan by Japanese Finance Minister Kaoru Yosano, the central bank said on Tuesday.

Hayakawa will replace former Executive Director Masahiro Samejima, the BOJ said in a press release.

Hayakawa served as the head of the central bank's research and statistics department from February 2001 to June 2007. He was also head of the central bank's office in Nagoya, central Japan, from June 2007 until his appointment as executive director on Tuesday, the BOJ said.

He will be responsible for the BOJ's branch office in Osaka, western Japan, the central bank said. (Reporting by Stanley White; Editing by Chris Gallagher)