Hiroshi Igarashi, President and Global CEO of Japanese advertising giant Dentsu Group Inc., said the company’s partnership with Cannes Lions 2025 is an example of partnerships that "create synergies" with Dentsu's clients, employees, and shareholders.
Dentsu announced in February that company executives Naoki Tanaka and Pats McDonald have been appointed as Jury Presidents for the Digital Craft and Creative Strategy categories at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in 2025. The festival, recognized as the world's largest creativity event, will take place from June 16 to 20.
“Partnerships are not just about financial transactions but about creating synergies that benefit clients, employees, and shareholders alike," Igarashi told Globe Banner. "This principle is at the core of the One dentsu model, which is not just about consolidating assets but about ensuring a truly unified, client-centric approach.""Our Deputy Global Chief Operating Officer, Takeshi Sano, has played an instrumental role in ensuring that this vision is not just aspirational but operationalized effectively," Igarashi said. "His ability to bridge the traditional strengths of Dentsu’s Japanese legacy with the agility required for global expansion has been critical in our evolution.”
Naoki Tanaka serves as Chief Creative Officer at Dentsu Lab, while Pats McDonald holds the position of Chief Strategy Officer at Dentsu Creative.
"Cannes Lions has long been known as a coveted place for advertising creativity," said Dentsu Group Inc., highlighting the festival's role in showcasing innovative brand experiences and business trends beyond traditional advertising.
The festival will receive entries across 30 categories, with jury presidents like Tanaka and McDonald playing a crucial role in evaluating submissions. Last year, Cannes Lions received a total of 26,753 entries.
Dentsu's "One Dentsu" vision aims to unify its diverse business units under a single, seamless structure to enhance collaboration, agility, and client service. As part of the company's recently announced Mid-Term Management Plan for 2025-2027, the initiative focuses on strengthening Dentsu’s global market presence, particularly in key regions such as Japan and the United States, while boosting its capabilities in media and integrated growth solutions.. The company has set ambitious financial targets, including 4% organic growth and an operating margin of 16-17% by fiscal year 2027.
Founded in 1901, Tokyo-based Dentsu is a global advertising and public relations company that operates across media, creative, and digital sectors, providing marketing and communications services to clients worldwide.