Dentsu appoints Takeshi Sano as President and Global CEO

Dentsu Group Inc. has announced a new global management structure, effective March 27, 2026, aimed at strengthening execution and accelerating growth across its global operations. A key change is the appointment of Takeshi Sano as President & Global CEO, replacing Hiroshi Igarashi.

The restructuring also introduces new executive roles to enhance governance, transformation, and client management.

Sano currently serves as CEO of Dentsu Japan and Deputy Global COO. Under his leadership, Dentsu Japan has achieved 11 consecutive quarters of revenue growth and high profitability over two years. Sano will continue as CEO of Dentsu Japan while overseeing global operations, creating synergies between domestic and international businesses to drive the recovery and growth of overseas operations.

Strengthening execution and global governance

The Global Management Team will now report directly to the Global CEO, eliminating the former Global COO and Global President roles. This structure allows regional CEOs and practice Presidents to make faster, client-focused decisions. New appointments include a Global Chief Transformation Officer to accelerate enterprise-wide initiatives and a Global Chief Corporate Affairs Officer to strengthen governance across the group.

Yoshimasa Watahiki, COO of Dentsu Japan, will assume the Global Chief Corporate Affairs Officer role, overseeing governance, legal compliance, internal controls, and sustainability, while continuing as COO of Dentsu Japan. Global CFO Shigeki Endo will maintain his role, focusing on financial strategy, enhancing corporate value, and ensuring sustainable cash generation.

Takeshi Sano, Director, Representative Executive Officer, President & Global CEO: "Amid rapid shifts in our business and competitive environment, we continue to thoughtfully evolve our leadership approach and management practices to support the pace of our transformation and strengthen execution, all while maximizing our contribution to client growth. Dentsu will continue to sharpen the distinctive value that sets us apart and position ourselves as a true growth partner, supporting clients consistently from strategy through to execution."

New roles for a global growth agenda

The refreshed Global Management Team also includes positions to drive strategic priorities:

Global Chief Brand Officer to strengthen brand vision and consistency

Chief Global Client Officer to align client strategy across regions and capabilities

Global New Ventures Officer to accelerate scalable business opportunities

Chief of Staff to support CEO alignment and coordinated execution

These changes affect approximately 23 executives managing Dentsu’s operations across 120 countries, positioning the agency for more unified decision-making, faster execution, and enhanced client growth worldwide.

www.dentsu.com

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