Dentsu undergoes major leadership overhaul, names Takeshi Sano as new global CEO

Tokyo, Japan – Dentsu Group Inc. has appointed Takeshi Sano as its new president and global CEO, as part of a newly announced global management structure set to take effect on March 27, 2026.

The changes aim to enhance execution excellence and drive stronger growth outcomes for the group’s clients. Under the new management structure, dentsu will build on its existing business foundation, global organisational culture, and strengthened governance to accelerate transformation, deepen client trust, and ensure sustainable corporate value.

A key change in the global management team is Sano’s appointment as president and global CEO. He currently serves as CEO of dentsu Japan and deputy global chief operating officer at dentsu.

Sano, who also serves as president and CEO of Dentsu Inc., the group’s core operating company generating roughly 40% of net revenue and over half of underlying operating profit, has led the company to 11 consecutive quarters of revenue growth and two years of high profits. Since 2023, he has also overseen the growth and global expansion of dentsu’s Business Transformation (BX) as BX CEO, dentsu.

From 2025, while serving as deputy global COO of dentsu and CEO of dentsu Japan, Sano strengthened the integration of domestic and international operations, supported Japanese clients expanding overseas, and extended dentsu Japan’s capabilities into global markets. Continuing as CEO of dentsu Japan in 2026, he will maintain growth momentum in Japan while driving synergies between domestic and international businesses, supporting the execution of the midterm management plan, and promoting recovery and growth in overseas markets.

To ensure faster decision-making and execution at Dentsu Inc., Sano will step down from his role as representative director, president, and CEO of Dentsu Inc. Chisato Matsumoto, currently director of Dentsu Inc., will assume the position.

Speaking about his new role, Sano said, “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 maximising our contribution to client growth.”

He added, “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.”

Sano succeeds Hiroshi Igarashi, who will step down from the group management team along with Arinobu Soga, executive vice president and global chief governance officer, and Giulio Malegori, executive vice president and global chief operating officer and chairman, dentsu Americas, who will become executive senior advisor.

The group has also formed a new global management team to strengthen execution and accelerate transformation. The restructuring eliminates the global COO role overseeing all regions and the global president role overseeing all practices, allowing regional CEOs and practice presidents—who have direct client relationships—to report directly to the global CEO, improving unity and enabling swifter client-focused decisions.

To further accelerate transformation, dentsu has appointed a global chief transformation officer and a global chief corporate affairs officer.

Meanwhile, Yoshimasa Watahiki, COO, dentsu Japan, will take on the role of vice president and global chief corporate affairs officer, continuing as COO, dentsu Japan while expanding his responsibilities globally. He is also scheduled to assume the position of director and representative executive officer of dentsu, pending approvals.

Shigeki Endo will retain his role as global CFO and is also scheduled to assume the position of director and executive officer at dentsu, pending approvals.

The global management team, consisting of 23 members, oversees operations in approximately 120 countries, including the global headquarters. Members handling executive duties are referred to as global executive management.