Japanese advertising and communications powerhouse Dentsu Group Inc. has announced that Takeshi Sano will take over as Executive Officer, President and Global CEO, succeeding Hiroshi Igarashi later this year. The executive change will become effective after the company’s 177th Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders on March 27, 2026.
Igarashi’s departure marks the end of a near-four-decade career at the company, which he joined in 1984 and helped steer through a period of global expansion and integration of its Japan and international operations under a unified global structure.
Proven internal successor
Sano, born March 3, 1970, brings over three decades of experience within Dentsu, having joined the company in April 1992 and served in a series of leadership roles. His responsibilities have included Managing Director of the Business Transformation Division (2021), CEO of Business Transformation (2023), and, most recently, CEO of dentsu Japan and Deputy Global Chief Operating Officer.
The company said that Sano’s long institutional tenure and deep understanding of Dentsu’s business strategy make him well suited to lead the group through a new phase of global transformation and competitiveness.
Broader executive reshuffle
Alongside Sano’s appointment, Dentsu announced additional changes to its global leadership team. Yoshimasa Watahiki, currently COO of dentsu Japan, will be named Executive Officer, Executive Vice President, Global Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, and COO of dentsu Japan.
In tandem with the leadership transition, Shigeki Endo, formerly Global CFO designate, is set to take on the role of Director, Executive Officer and Global CFO as of March 27, 2026.
Meanwhile, Arinobu Soga, Executive Officer and Global Chief Governance Officer, is expected to resign his executive officer post, and Chisato Matsumoto will be named Director, President and CEO of Dentsu Inc., the company’s core Japanese unit.
Strategic intent behind the change
Dentsu said the leadership shift is intended to “strengthen competitiveness by accelerating transformation under a new management structure,” reflecting a broader effort to adapt to evolving global market dynamics and client expectations.
The executive changes come amid heightened industry pressures, including the need to navigate rapid digital transformation, intensifying competition from rival networks and the increasing influence of AI in advertising and marketing.
Legacy and future outlook
Igarashi’s exit concludes a long tenure that saw Dentsu evolve its global footprint while striving to unify its operations in Japan and overseas. Sano’s elevation signals a continuity of internal leadership coupled with renewed emphasis on strategic agility and global integration as the company moves into its next chapter.
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