Erin Fujimoto

Erin Fujimoto is the co-founder and head of merchandising at Tommy John, a comfort-focused lifestyle brand in the United States. With a background in finance, Fujimoto studied finance at Arizona State University and began her career as a vice president and financial advisor at J.P. Morgan. She later explored entrepreneurship through a skincare venture before co-founding Tommy John with Tom Patterson. The pair left their careers and invested their savings to reinvent men's undergarments, despite having no prior experience in clothing design or manufacturing, motivated by the belief that everyday essentials could be improved.

Fujimoto and Patterson established Tommy John with the aim of delivering comfortable and innovative solutions, starting with the patented "Stay-Tucked Undershirt." The brand prioritized fabric, fit, and function, focusing on comfort and quality. Tommy John has expanded into a nationwide brand available at major retailers including Nordstrom, Dillard's, Neiman Marcus, Dick's Sporting Goods, and Men's Wearhouse. The company has sold more than 20 million pairs of underwear and operates from a New York City headquarters with over 120 employees.

As head of merchandising, Fujimoto leads the company's merchandising strategy and collaborates on business planning and execution. She played a key role in launching the women's line, initially hesitant due to the competitive women's intimates market. The launch proved successful, with the women's collection selling through six months of inventory in six weeks. The women's division now represents nearly a third of the business and continues to grow.

Outside of Tommy John, Fujimoto serves on the Sanford International Board, contributing to global efforts to improve the human condition. She is also a public speaker, having delivered keynote addresses at the Sanford International Women's Day event and spoken at the Ness School of Business Innovation series at South Dakota State University. Fujimoto addresses topics such as entrepreneurship, resilience, and customer-centric business strategies, drawing on her experience of career transitions, overcoming business challenges, and building a consumer brand.