Is Japan’s Dentsu group contemplating selling its international business? Media reports suggested a sale, describing how the group had signed up M&A partners to find potential buyers. But then a few days ago Hiroshi Igarashi, president and global CEO of the group issued a statement that no decisions have been made. However, he did say that Dentsu is rebuilding the foundation of its international business and re-evaluating underperforming businesses. It may be recalled that Dentsu had earlier announced a layoff of 8 per cent of its international workforce (about 3,400 employees).
The struggles that every network is facing is real, and consolidation is happening – witness the Omnicom group buyout of IPG as well as dramatic changes at WPP, with Mark Read stepping down and a rank outsider Cindy Rose taking over, ostensibly to step up on AI adoption. On September 1, Rose took over and her first messages have been one of transformation. Since her takeover, there was also a significant global leadership rejig announcement with Ogilvy chief Devika Bulchandani appointed as WPP global COO and Laurent Ezekiel as Ogilvy global CEO. Everyone is shaking up things.
Published on September 8, 2025