Dentsu Announces New Management Structure and Plans to Sell Russian Operations
Dentsu, a global advertising agency, has announced a new management structure under President and CEO Hiroshi Igarashi. This restructuring involves a consolidation of Dentsu International and Dentsu Japan Network into a single organization, effective from January 1.
The decision was made to enhance client involvement in strategic discussions and simplify the corporate structure for agile decision-making, strategic focus, and clarity across the group. Global CEO Wendy Clark will step down as part of this change, with Igarashi taking over the entire business.
The company's statement highlights the emphasis on media as a critical growth engine, driven by creativity, data, and technology. This move is consistent with Dentsu's strategic evolution towards Integrated Growth Solutions (IGS), aiming to leverage marketing, technology, and consulting capabilities for unique solutions.
In the Americas, there have been changes in leadership. Sean Reardon, former CEO of the Americas Media Practice, has stepped down, with Will Swayne, Dentsu’s Global Practice President of Media, taking on additional responsibilities for the U.S. market. This shift is intended to strengthen the U.S. market as a key growth and leadership driver within Dentsu.
However, leadership continuity is maintained in the regional media agencies, with Michael Law heading Carat, Leah Meranus leading Dentsu X, and Liz Rutgersson staying on at iProspect in the Americas region.
The broader restructuring is part of a global transformation affecting all regions, including Dentsu International and Dentsu Japan Network. The changes aim to reinforce Dentsu's global competitive strategy by reconfiguring leadership roles to accelerate growth, improve client service delivery, and drive innovation through integrated marketing, technology, and consulting.
This restructuring signals a move towards a more integrated and globally coordinated approach across Dentsu's business segments, with the potential for closer collaboration between Dentsu International and Dentsu Japan Network to leverage diverse capabilities and drive sustainable growth.
The restructuring aims to drive innovation through integrated marketing, technology, and consulting, emphasizing Dentsu's leadership in the business sector and its strategic focus on media as a growth engine. The decision to consolidate Dentsu International and Dentsu Japan Network will simplify the corporate structure for agile decision-making in finance, thereby enhancing client involvement in strategic discussions.
