Dentsu Names Takeshi Sano Global CEO in Major Leadership Restructure

Dentsu Group has announced a significant overhaul of its global leadership, appointing Takeshi Sano as president and global chief executive officer from March 27, 2026. The move will see Hiroshi Igarashi step down, signalling a generational handover at one of the world’s largest marketing services networks.

The transition comes with structural changes intended to simplify how decisions are made and executed. Dentsu is removing the roles of global COO and global president, creating a flatter system in which regional CEOs and practice leaders report directly to the chief executive. The intent is to reduce layers between strategy and delivery at a time when clients are demanding speed, accountability and measurable outcomes.

For advertisers and agency partners, the reorganisation suggests a company trying to present a more unified face across markets. Multinational brands increasingly expect consistent capabilities, shared data infrastructure and faster implementation. Complex hierarchies can slow that down, particularly when campaigns require coordination across geographies.

Sano takes on the global brief after leading the Japan business, which remains the group’s financial backbone. The domestic operation contributes roughly 40 percent of revenue and more than half of underlying operating profit. Under his tenure, the unit has reported 11 straight quarters of revenue growth while expanding deeper into business transformation services beyond classic advertising.

He will continue running Dentsu Japan through 2026, creating a dual responsibility that keeps headquarters priorities tightly linked to overseas operations. The arrangement reflects the importance of Japanese clients who are expanding internationally and want their agency relationships to travel with them.

Alongside the CEO change, Dentsu has introduced new roles aimed at strengthening internal mechanics. A global chief transformation officer position underscores ongoing efforts to reshape processes and technology, while a global chief corporate affairs officer role expands attention on governance, compliance and risk. Yoshimasa Watahiki will move into that remit, and Shigeki Endo remains global CFO with responsibility for improving financial performance outside Japan.

Together, the reconfigured leadership group will oversee activity in around 120 countries. The ambition is to operate less like a federation of semi-autonomous markets and more like an integrated platform that can move resources quickly.

The timing is important. While Dentsu has stabilised parts of its portfolio, particularly at home, several international markets remain under pressure from cautious client spending and intensified competition. Simplifying reporting lines is meant to sharpen accountability and cut delays that can frustrate marketers working to compressed timelines.

For the broader industry, the announcement is another example of holding companies reassessing how they are built. As consulting firms, technology platforms and specialist boutiques compete for budgets, traditional networks are under pressure to prove they can deliver both creativity and operational reliability.

Whether a flatter structure will translate into better performance will become evident over the next few cycles of earnings and client wins. What is clear is that Dentsu wants fewer internal handoffs and more direct ownership at the top.