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Comment from Takeshi Sano, Director, Representative Executive Officer, President & Global CEO, dentsu (Effective from March 27, 2026):
“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. By creating momentum for our clients, partners, people, and society, we will reinforce trust with stakeholders and steadily advance the sustainable enhancement of our corporate value.”
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- We have formed a new Global Management Team which prioritizes strengthening execution capabilities and accelerating the pace of transformation. Specifically, eliminating the Global COO role overseeing all regions and the Global President role overseeing all practices will allow the CEOs of each region and the Presidents of each practice—who build direct relationships with clients—to report directly to the Global CEO, enabling the management team to operate with greater unity and make swift decisions that prioritize client needs. Additionally, to accelerate global transformation, we have newly appointed a Global Chief Transformation Officer. Concurrently, to strengthen the governance foundation underpinning our global operations, we have also newly appointed a Global Chief Corporate Affairs Officer.
- Yoshimasa Watahiki, COO, dentsu Japan, will assume the position of Director, Representative Executive Officer, Vice President and Global Chief Corporate Affairs Officer. After joining Dentsu Inc., Watahiki worked in the media division before serving in several leadership roles within the business management division, where he led the development and execution of business strategies. Since 2020, he has been involved in managing the Dentsu Japan Network (now known as dentsu Japan) as an Executive Officer. In 2023, he was appointed COO, dentsu Japan, driving reforms across both business and management structures while also serving as a board member for numerous group companies and overseeing their governance and management. Going forward, Watahiki will continue in his role as COO, dentsu Japan, while expanding his executive capabilities to the global level, working alongside the Global Management Team headed by Sano. In his new role as Vice President and Global Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, he will primarily be responsible for overseeing governance. In addition, he is scheduled to assume the position of Director and Representative Executive Officer of dentsu, subject to the necessary approvals.
- Shigeki Endo will maintain his role as Global CFO. Endo has a track record spanning over 30 years of proven leadership experience in global finance. Starting his career at a Japanese trading company, he held positions in internal audit and CFO roles both within Japan and internationally at the US-based General Electric (GE) and British American Tobacco, accumulating extensive experience in global business operations. He subsequently served as Executive Officer and Japan CFO at Accenture Japan before joining dentsu in July 2024. Since February 2025, has accelerated business and management transformation from a finance perspective as Global CFO, dentsu. He has demonstrated exceptional execution capabilities, particularly in reviewing underperforming overseas businesses and rebuilding the management foundation, where he has delivered steady results. Moving forward, he will strive to enhance corporate value by strengthening the group’s financial foundation and achieving sustainable cash generation, thereby earning the trust of various stakeholders. Subject to the necessary approvals, he is also scheduled to assume the position of Director and Executive Officer at dentsu.
* Takeshi Sano, Yoshimasa Watahiki and Shigeki Endo have been nominated as candidates for Director to be proposed at the 177th Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders scheduled for March 27, 2026. In addition, following the conclusion of the same Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders, they will be appointed to Executive Officers at the Board of Directors meeting. Takeshi Sano and Yoshimasa Watahiki are expected to be appointed Representative Executive Officers.
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Global Management Team
The Global Management Team, consisting of the following 23 members, is responsible for managing the entire Group in approx. 120 countries, including the global headquarters, Dentsu Group Inc. Within this team, the members handling executive duties are referred to as “Global Executive Management.”
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Global Executive Management appointments (13 leaders)
(Effective from March 27, 2026)
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| Change in title | Position as of March 27, 2026 | Name | Current position |
| ** | Director, Representative Executive Officer, President & Global CEO, dentsu CEO, dentsu Japan | Takeshi Sano | Executive Officer, CEO, dentsu Japan & Deputy Global Chief Operating Officer, dentsu |
| ** | Director, Representative Executive Officer, Executive Vice President, Global Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, dentsu | Yoshimasa Watahiki | COO, dentsu Japan |
| ** | Director, Executive Officer, Global CFO, dentsu | Shigeki Endo | Executive Officer, Global CFO, dentsu |
| * | CEO, dentsu Americas & Chief Global Client Officer | Beth Ann Kaminkow | CEO, dentsu North America |
| CEO, dentsu EMEA | Andre Andrade | CEO, dentsu EMEA | |
| CEO, dentsu APAC | Yuichi Toyoda | CEO, dentsu APAC | |
| Global Practice President – Media & Integrated Solution, dentsu | Will Swayne | Global Practice President – Media & Integrated Solution, dentsu | |
| Global Chief Creative Officer, dentsu | Yasuharu Sasaki | Global Chief Creative Officer, dentsu | |
| Global Practice President – CXM, dentsu | Pete Stein | Global Practice President – CXM, dentsu | |
| Global Chief HR Officer, dentsu | Miho Tanimoto | Global Chief HR Officer, dentsu | |
| * | Global Chief Transformation Officer, dentsu | Noritaka Omi | Global Chief Business Operations Officer, dentsu |
| * | Global Chief Brand Officer, dentsu | Jean Lin | Global President – Global Practices, dentsu |
| * | Chief New Ventures Officer, dentsu | Yoshiki Ishihara | Global Chief Strategy Officer, dentsu |
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Global Management appointments (10 leaders)
(Effective from March 27, 2026)
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| * | Corporate Secretary & Deputy General Counsel, dentsu | Tadashi Nagae | Global Corporate Secretary & Deputy Global General Counsel, dentsu |
| Chief Intelligence Officer, dentsu | Kimiya Satake | Chief Intelligence Officer, dentsu | |
| Global Head of Internal Audit, dentsu | Hideo Hatano | Global Head of Internal Audit, dentsu | |
| Global General Counsel, dentsu | Alison Zoellner | Global General Counsel, dentsu | |
| Global Chief Sustainability Officer, dentsu | Yuko Kitakaze | Global Chief Sustainability Officer, dentsu | |
| Global Head of Internal Control & Risk, dentsu | So Aoki | Global Head of Internal Control & Risk, dentsu | |
| Global Chief Information Officer, dentsu | Alex Bedier | Global Chief Information Officer, dentsu | |
| * | Chief of Staff, dentsu | Manus Wheeler | Chief Brand & Culture Officer, dentsu |
| Global Chief Communications Officer, dentsu | Jeremy Miller | Global Chief Communications Officer, dentsu | |
| Chief Data & Technology Officer, dentsu | Shirli Zelcer | Chief Data & Technology Officer, dentsu |
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Representative Executive Officer Changes (as of March 27, 2026）
English (US)