Toyota's new leader outspoken

He's tall, knows judo and is not afraid to say what's on his mind. That's how The New York Times describes Hiroshi Okuda, 62, who was named president of Toyota Motor Corp. in August. Most Japanese executives don't talk openly about their competitors, but Mr. Okuda tells the Times if he were Mazda Motor Corp.'s banker, "I would start shopping for a rescuer." He also predicts that Nissan Motor Corp. and Mitsubishi Motors Corp. will merge. "They'll keep denying it until it happens," he is quoted as saying.