Hiroshi Okuda
Hiroshi Okuda (奥田 碩 Okuda Hiroshi; born December 29, 1932, in Mie Prefecture), is the former chairman of the Toyota Motor Corporation[1] from 1999 to 2006.[2]
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Overview
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He became president of Toyota in 1995 and has worked at the corporation for 50 years. In 1998, Okuda was selected as a member of the Prime Minister's Economic Strategy Council of Japan[2] and became chairman of the Japan Federation of Employers' Associations[3] in 1999. He has also held the position of chairman of the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association[4] since 2000. Okuda holds a 4th dan black belt in Judo and graduated from Hitotsubashi University[5] in 1955.
Okuda is credited with seeing the need for hybrid cars early and pushing Toyota towards quickly bringing them to market.[6]
References
- Fredrick, Jim. "Hiroshi Okuda / Fujio Cho". Time. Archived from the original on January 16, 2007. Retrieved 28 December 2010.
- Schroeder, Robert (24 June 2006). "Toyota chairman steps down: Cho takes over post vacated by retiring Okuda". MarketWatch. Retrieved 28 December 2010.
- Strom, Stephanie (8 July 1999). "INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS; Toyota Is Seeking to Stop Use of Seniority to Set Pay". New York Times. Retrieved 28 December 2010.
- Satō, Masaaki (2006). The Honda myth: the genius and his wake. Vertical. p. 449. ISBN 978-1-932234-26-8.
- Bremmer, Brian (7 April 1997). "Toyota's Crusade". Business Week. Archived from the original on 2013-01-19. Retrieved 29 December 2010.
- Taylor III, Alex (24 February 2006). "The Birth of the Prius". Fortune. Archived from the original on 1 November 2010. Retrieved 28 December 2010.