Hiroshi Okuda (奥田碩), the former president and chairman of Toyota Motor Corporation who exercised strong leadership, has died at the age of 93. His appointment as president from outside the founding family and his drive to pursue transformation across political and business circles attracted attention.
The Asahi Shimbun reports that Hiroshi Okuda (奥田碩), the former president and chairman of Toyota Motor Corporation, has died at the age of 93. He was known for seeking transformation across political and business circles over many years and for exercising leadership amid Japan's economic conditions following the collapse of the bubble economy.
In August 1995, the presidency of Toyota changed from Tatsuro Toyoda (豊田達郎) to Hiroshi Okuda (奥田碩) following the former president's retirement due to illness. His appointment was notable as Toyota's first appointment of a president from outside the founding family in 28 years, and he became known for making quick decisions and speaking plainly. At the time, Toyota was said to have focused primarily on expanding its business in Japan.