TOKYO - Hiroshi Okuda, a former president of Toyota Motor who helped lay the foundation for the automaker's emergence as one of the world's leading manufacturers, died of old age on August 8 at the age of 93. Okuda moved from president to chairman in 1999, with Fujio Cho succeeding him as president. In May 2002, the Japan Federation of Employers' Associations and the former Keidanren merged to create the present Japan Business Federation. As Keidanren chairman, Okuda spoke frequently on taxation, employment, social security, trade and economic reform. Okuda stepped down as Toyota chairman in 2006 after more than half a century with the automaker and later served as a senior adviser.