Japanese communications giant dentsu is entering a new phase of transformation with significant changes at the top of the company and a redefinition of its global business strategy. The group has announced a new global management structure, including the appointment of Takeshi Sano as President and Global CEO, while at the same time withdrawing from discussions about the full sale of its international business.
The changes will take effect on March 27, 2026, following shareholder approval, and come at a time when the company is seeking to strengthen execution capabilities and accelerate transformation in a complex and rapidly changing global environment.
Longtime President and Global CEO Hiroshi Igarashi is stepping down after leading the company since 2022. His successor Takeshi Sano comes from the position of CEO of dentsu Japan and Deputy Global Chief Operating Officer. He has been with the company since 1992 and over the past two years has established himself as one of the key operational leaders within the group.
Sano led the transformation of the Japanese business, which generates about 40 percent of the group’s net revenue and more than half of its operating profit, and is credited with 11 consecutive quarters of revenue growth. At the same time, he oversaw the development of the Business Transformation segment, with a particular focus on integrating domestic and international operations and supporting Japanese clients in global expansion.
This decision follows media reports that attempts to sell the international business were close to failure, as well as a period of instability within the international management leadership. Over the past three years, Global CEO Wendy Clark, CEO dentsu Americas Jacki Kelley, and her successor Michael Komasinski have left the company.
The new management structure also brings operational changes. The role of Global COO overseeing all regions is being eliminated, as well as the position of global president responsible for all practices. Instead, regional CEOs and practice leaders will report directly to the Global CEO, with the aim of faster decision making and a stronger focus on client needs. New roles of Global Chief Transformation Officer and Global Chief Corporate Affairs Officer have also been introduced, further emphasizing the focus on transformation and corporate governance.
The company states that the goal of the new structure is to accelerate execution of the medium term plan, strengthen integration of Japanese and international operations, and rebuild investor and market confidence. In the context of global industry consolidation and increasing pressure on profitability, dentsu’s moves clearly signal that the group has chosen internal consolidation and a focus on operational discipline instead of radical restructuring through the sale of key parts of the business.
The new CEO takes office at a moment when transformation is a necessity, not an option, and the market will very soon show how capable the new structure really is of delivering the growth the company is announcing.
