Toyota vs W. R. Berkley: Founders, CEOs and History
Toyota was founded in 1937 by Kiichiro Toyoda, Sakichi Toyoda and is led by Kenta Kon. W. R. Berkley was founded in 1967 by William R. Berkley and is led by W. Robert Berkley, Jr..
Company facts
Toyota
- Founded
- 1937
- Headquarters
- Toyota City, Aichi, Japan
- Current CEO
- Kenta Kon
- Employees
- 375,235
W. R. Berkley
- Founded
- 1967
- Headquarters
- Greenwich, Connecticut
- Current CEO
- W. Robert Berkley, Jr.
- Employees
- 8,800
Founders
Toyota
Kiichiro Toyoda
Kiichiro Toyoda (1894-1952) founded the Toyota Motor Corporation in 1937, spinning it out of his father's successful textile machinery business.
Sakichi Toyoda
Sakichi Toyoda was not the founder of Toyota Motor Corporation but his inventions and philosophy created the foundation on which it was built. His loom patents generated the capital Kiichiro needed to experiment with automobiles.
W. R. Berkley
William R. Berkley
William R. Berkley founded W. R. Berkley Corporation in 1967 and led it for nearly 50 years, first as CEO and then, from 2015, as executive chairman. He built the company into a Fortune 500 commercial insurer organized around specialized underwriting units.
CEOs and their tenures
Toyota
- Akio Toyoda2009–2023
President and Chief Executive Officer (now Chairman)
Akio Toyoda took leadership during one of Toyota's hardest modern periods, including the global financial crisis and the unintended acceleration recall crisis.
Source - Koji Sato2023–2026
President and Chief Executive Officer (now Vice Chairman)
Koji Sato inherited a profitable but scrutinized Toyota.
Source - Kenta Kon2026–present
President and Chief Executive Officer
As CFO, he managed the immense capital allocation required for Toyota's massive $35 billion commitment to fully electrify its vehicle lineup by 2030.
Source
W. R. Berkley
- William R. Berkley1967–2026
Founder and Executive Chairman
As the legendary Founder (who started the company while studying at Harvard Business School in 1967), he built an absolutely massive, highly profitable specialty insurance empire, famously refusing to compete on price during soft markets.
Source - W. Robert Berkley, Jr.2015–present
Chairman, President and CEO
Leads the company's cycle-management approach. In Q2 2026 that meant growing Insurance segment premiums 5.4% while Reinsurance & Monoline Excess premiums declined, and returning $334.1M to shareholders in the quarter.
Source
Timeline: Toyota and W. R. Berkley side by side
1937Toyota
Toyota Motor Corporation incorporated
Toyota Motor Corporation was incorporated after Kiichiro Toyoda expanded the Toyoda family business from automatic looms into automobile manufacturing.
1955Toyota
Toyopet Crown launched
The Toyopet Crown gave Toyota a postwar passenger-car platform and later became its first passenger car exported to the United States.
1966Toyota
Corolla launched
Toyota launched the Corolla, a compact car that became central to its mass-market export strategy.
1967W. R. Berkley
Company Founded
William R. Berkley founds the business that becomes W. R. Berkley Corporation.
1973W. R. Berkley
Public Listing
W. R. Berkley becomes a publicly traded company.
1989Toyota
Lexus launches
Toyota launched Lexus with the LS 400, moving into premium vehicles with a quality-led strategy.
1997Toyota
Prius launches in Japan
Toyota launched the Prius, turning hybrid technology into a mass-produced passenger vehicle.
2015W. R. Berkley
CEO Succession
W. Robert Berkley, Jr. becomes CEO and William R. Berkley becomes executive chairman.
2016Toyota
Acquired Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd.
Toyota Motor acquired Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd..
2021Toyota
Acquired Lyft Level 5
Toyota Motor acquired Lyft Level 5 for $550 million.
2021Toyota
Acquired CARMERA
Toyota Motor acquired CARMERA.
2025W. R. Berkley
FY2025 Revenue of $14.71B
Total revenues reach $14.71B and net income to common stockholders reaches $1.78B.
2026Toyota
Kenta Kon becomes president and CEO
Kenta Kon became president and CEO on April 1, 2026, while Koji Sato moved to vice chairman and chief industry officer.
2026Toyota
FY2026 sales revenues reach ~$340B (JPY 50.685T)
Toyota reported FY2026 sales revenues of ~$340 billion (JPY 50,684.952 billion) and net income attributable to Toyota Motor Corporation of ~$25.8 billion (JPY 3,848.098 billion).
2026W. R. Berkley
Mitsui Sumitomo Completes 15% Stake
Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance, part of MS&AD, completes its purchase of 15% of W. R. Berkley's outstanding common stock in Q1 2026.
2026W. R. Berkley
Founder Dies
Founder and executive chairman William R. Berkley dies on June 9, 2026, at age 80.
2026W. R. Berkley
Record Q2 2026 Premiums
Gross premiums written reach a record $4.14B and net income to common stockholders is $452.3M.
Acquisitions
Toyota
- Lyft Level 52021$550M
- CARMERA2021Undisclosed
- Renovo Motors2021Undisclosed
- Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd.2016Undisclosed
- Toyota Auto Body2012Undisclosed
W. R. Berkley
No verified acquisitions are listed.
Questions about Toyota vs W. R. Berkley
Who is the CEO of Toyota Motor Corporation and W. R. Berkley Corporation?
Toyota Motor Corporation is led by Kenta Kon and W. R. Berkley Corporation is led by W. Robert Berkley, Jr.. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Toyota Motor Corporation founded vs W. R. Berkley Corporation?
Toyota Motor Corporation was founded in 1937 — 30 years before W. R. Berkley Corporation, which was founded in 1967. Toyota Motor Corporation's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger W. R. Berkley Corporation.
How many employees does Toyota Motor Corporation have compared to W. R. Berkley Corporation?
Toyota Motor Corporation employs approximately 375,235 people, while W. R. Berkley Corporation employs approximately 8,800. Toyota Motor Corporation has the larger workforce at 375,235 employees, compared to W. R. Berkley Corporation's 8,800. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are Toyota Motor Corporation and W. R. Berkley Corporation headquartered?
Toyota Motor Corporation is headquartered in Japan and W. R. Berkley Corporation is headquartered in United States. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded Toyota Motor Corporation and W. R. Berkley Corporation?
Toyota Motor Corporation was founded by Kiichiro Toyoda, Sakichi Toyoda. W. R. Berkley Corporation was founded by William R. Berkley.
Which company has a longer operating history — Toyota Motor Corporation or W. R. Berkley Corporation?
Toyota Motor Corporation has been operating for approximately 89 years, making it the more established of the two companies. W. R. Berkley Corporation has been in operation for around 59 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Toyota vs W. R. Berkley overview