New Delhi, India – Hakuhodo India Group has appointed Jayanto Banerjee and Naoto Takahashi as Co-Managing Directors, ushering in a new dual-leadership structure as the agency network prepares for its next chapter of growth.
The pair succeeds Kosuke Kataoka, who is returning to Hakuhodo Japan after 16 years in India to take on new global responsibilities.
Banerjee, also known as Banjo, brings more than three decades of experience spanning India and the Middle East.
Having spent years within the Hakuhodo network, he has helped shape the group’s strategy, human-centric design capabilities, and award-winning work across its India operations.
His appointment underscores Hakuhodo India’s commitment to its Sei-katsu-sha philosophy, which places people’s everyday lives and behaviours at the centre of marketing and innovation.
Meanwhile, Takahashi brings extensive expertise in corporate strategy and cross-border business integration gained throughout his career in Japan.
He has been recognised for advancing innovative approaches that help brands strengthen customer connections and drive growth.
Together, the new leaders will focus on accelerating the agency’s momentum by combining strategic thinking, creativity, technology, and global expertise.
Under Kataoka’s leadership, Hakuhodo India expanded its footprint, strengthened its integrated-services offering, and bolstered its reputation for delivering creative and data-driven marketing solutions.
“Over the past years, we have strengthened our portfolio, our teams, and our client relationships in India,” said Kataoka. “With Jayanto and Naoto leading the business together, I am confident that Hakuhodo India will continue to grow, innovate, and deliver even greater value to our clients.”
Banerjee said India remains one of the world’s most dynamic markets and highlighted plans to deepen the agency’s integrated capabilities.
“Along with Naoto-san, our goal is to sharpen our integrated-services model, deepen our strategic and creative capabilities, and position Hakuhodo India as the preferred partner for growth-driven brands,” he said.
Takahashi added that blending Hakuhodo’s global perspective with local expertise would be key to the agency’s future.
“Blending Hakuhodo’s global insights with India’s local expertise, we will deliver smarter, more connected solutions for our clients,” he said. “Above all, we are committed to driving client business success, while reinforcing our foundational principles: the ‘Sei-katsu-sha Centric Mindset’ and ‘Partner Approach’.”
Founded in India in 2000, Hakuhodo India Group today comprises more than 1,700 employees across 10 group companies and 11 offices, offering services spanning creative, digital, experiential, content, consulting, and AI-powered marketing solutions.
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