I&S BBDO announces executive appointments

Nagai, currently President & Representative Director, will oversee the three companies in the I&S BBDO group in Japan and work with the global Omnicom network on growth and corporate value

Japanese advertising agency I&S BBDO will promote two senior executives as part of its growth strategy, with Yoshihiro Nagai moving to Chairman & CEO, Representative Director and Kenji Kuboshita becoming President, Director. The appointments take effect October 1, 2026.

Nagai, currently President & Representative Director, will oversee the three companies in the I&S BBDO group in Japan and work with the global Omnicom network on growth and corporate value. Kuboshita, currently Executive Officer, Managing Director, will take responsibility for the agency’s overall operations and continue its focus on integrated client solutions.

I&S BBDO strengthens leadership team

Nagai began his career at Dentsu in 1985 and held several executive positions across the group’s international operations. He joined I&S BBDO in 2018, progressing from Executive Officer to President, Director, before becoming President & Representative Director in 2021. In his incoming role, he will draw on his international business experience to support the agency and wider group in Japan.

Kuboshita joined I&S BBDO in 1990, managing marketing and communications initiatives for domestic and international clients. Between 2004 and 2019, he held leadership positions at Havas Worldwide Japan, now Havas Japan, including Client Services Director and Business Director. He returned to I&S BBDO in 2019 and has served as Executive Officer since 2022.

Nagai and Kuboshita take senior roles

Yoshihiro Nagai, incoming Chairman & CEO, Representative Director, I&S BBDO: "Kuboshita has made valuable contributions to our clients and our business through a variety of leadership roles. I look forward to working closely with him as we continue to build on the strong foundation of I&S BBDO."

Sean Donovan, President, Omnicom Advertising, Asia: “Nagai's leadership has been instrumental in shaping I&S BBDO, and this transition to Chairman & CEO is a fitting recognition of the legacy he's built over the years. Kuboshita has been at the heart of that journey, and I have complete confidence in his ability to build on this foundation and take the agency into an exciting new chapter.”

Kenji Kuboshita, incoming President, Director, I&S BBDO: “Building on I&S BBDO’s longstanding strengths in creativity and deep client understanding, I look forward to leading the company into its next phase of growth. In an increasingly dynamic and complex marketplace, we remain committed to using the power of creativity to solve our clients’ business challenges and serving as a trusted partner that contributes to their continued success.”

The agency plans to build on its creative capabilities while leveraging its position within Omnicom’s connected growth platform in Japan. It aims to provide clients with access to specialist expertise across the network, combining I&S BBDO’s creative heritage with Omnicom’s scale, data and technology.

www.isbbdo.co.jp

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