Dentsu announced a major restructure, confirming the departure of Wendy Clark from the international division in a move called "One Management Team".
The Japan-based global advertising group will operate one business, effectively joining the domestic Japan network business and the international division.
Operations conducted in four regions -- Japan, Americas, EMEA, and APAC -- will be by CEO Hiroshi Igarashi.
This is the second restructure at dentsu in less than a year. In November last year, dentsu announced widespread changes to its senior management and its board structure to lead the group to “the next phase of growth”.
In the latest move, the group will globally integrate each of its corporate functions to build a common management platform. Dentsu will launch a dedicated Integration Office to drive the transformation.
The company described the restructure as a "globally integrated leadership" designed to accelerate transformation and promote operational excellence:
"These plans mark a major step forward in the leadership team’s ongoing business transformation efforts across the entire group following the launch of the comprehensive review in 2020."
Dentsu has been doing well with guidance for 5% to 6% revenue growth this year. In the June quarter, the group reported 8.2% organic growth globally.
The role held by Wendy Clark, who left DDB as global chief executive to become CEO of dentsu International in 2020, will be "discontinued". She will depart at the end of the year.
Clark said: “It's hard to be prouder of our 46,000+ Dentsu International team members and leadership. It's their brilliant thinking, hard work and commitment that has accelerated the opportunity for Dentsu International to now become fully integrated into Dentsu Group and led by One Management Team.
"While I will miss this team greatly, my confidence in them could not be higher and I will be cheering for their many successes to come."
Clark’s tenure has been marked by a strategy to cut the number of agency brands at dentsu, from 160 to six.
Igarashi said, “We are deeply grateful to Wendy for the significant contribution she has made in helping dentsu group and dentsu international recover their performance and build a strong foundation for the future.
"The transition to the global 'One Management Team' structure is an ongoing effort to realise the 'comprehensive review' and 'business transformation' of the entire group that we have been promoting since 2020.
"I am confident this will accelerate the group’s business growth and further enhance our corporate value. Making this a reality will require the close cooperation of the 67,000 employees across our global team.”
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