Dentsu Group has appointed Takeshi Sano as Representative Executive Officer, President & Global CEO of dentsu, with the role scheduled to take effect after the company’s 177th Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders on March 27, 2026. He has been serving as Executive Officer, CEO of dentsu Japan and Deputy Global Chief Operating Officer prior to this appointment.
The company has confirmed that the leadership change has been part of a broader restructuring aimed at accelerating transformation and strengthening competitiveness under a new management structure. The transition has also included the resignation of current President & Global CEO Hiroshi Igarashi from the role.
Sano has built his career within dentsu since joining the company in April 1992. He has held leadership roles across business transformation, executive management and operational functions. He has served as Director of the Business Producers Division in 2017 and Executive Officer in 2021, before taking on executive management responsibilities within dentsu’s global structure since 2023. He has been leading dentsu Japan as CEO since 2024 while also serving as Deputy Global Chief Operating Officer from 2025.
The executive reshuffle has also included the appointment of Yoshimasa Watahiki as Representative Executive Officer and Executive Vice President, Global Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, dentsu & COO, dentsu Japan, as part of the wider restructuring plan.
