Departures of note

Hiroshi Okuda was born on 29 December 1932 in Mie Prefecture, Japan. He joined Toyota Motor Corporation in 1955 after graduating from Hitotsubashi University and spent four decades rising through the company's ranks. In 1995 he became president of Toyota, leading the automaker through a period of global expansion and the launch of the pioneering Prius hybrid vehicle.

Okuda succeeded as chairman of Toyota in 1999, a role he held until 2006, overseeing the company's continued growth and diversification. He also served as the first chairman of the newly formed Japan Business Federation (Keidanren) from 2002, acting as a key liaison between Japan's corporate sector and the government. His leadership was noted for promoting environmental initiatives and strengthening Japan's economic policies.

Beyond his corporate duties, Okuda was involved in various public policy advisory bodies, including the Economic and Fiscal Policy Council, and contributed to discussions on social security reform. He retired from Toyota’s board in 2008 and later led the International Cooperation Bank, supporting Japanese enterprises abroad. Okuda passed away on 12 August 2026 at the age of 93.