A scandal-tainted beauty salon operator in Tokyo has announced that founder and long-running leader Yuri Takano stepped down as president last month but denied the move was related to her contentious management style.

The 67-year-old entrepreneur and TV personality stepped down as head of Fuji Beauty in April after being "promoted" to chairwoman and was replaced by Fuji Beauty executive Koichi Negishi, a spokesman for the company said.

The reputation of the Takano Yuri Beauty Clinic chain was marred by alleged labor violations last summer that included underpaid overtime and disregard for pregnant employees.