Guest commentary: For Akio Toyoda’s sake, he must listen to Toyota’s dissatisfied shareholders and reform strategy

It was a significant surprise — given his stature among the Japanese business community — when Toyota Motor Corp. Chairman Akio Toyoda indicated on July 29 that he may not be able to continue to lead the company if shareholder support for him continues to dissipate at the same rate as it has the last two years. “At this rate, I won’t be able to remain on the board next year,” Toyoda told the Toyota Times.