Dentsu has confirmed the departure of Wendy Clark, global CEO, as the Group transitions to a new globally integrated ‘One Management Team’ structure.
According to the Group, the restructuring is designed to accelerate its business transformation and promote operational excellence across the entire Group following the launch of the comprehensive review in 2020.
The One Management Team structure, effective as of January 1, 2023, will be led by president and CEO Hiroshi Igarashi, this will comprise a culturally diverse group of leaders with a wealth of knowledge and experience.
In addition to the structure shift, Dentsu will also strengthen its client services by establishing a new client support platform to enhance the client experience at the global level and by promoting Integrated Growth Solutions (IGS), which bring together the diverse capabilities within the Group.
The Group will also globally integrate each of its corporate functions to build a common management platform.
Dentsu Group will launch a dedicated Integration Office, on September 15, to drive a seamless transformation process.
Among these changes, the role of DI Global CEO will be discontinued and Clark will depart DI, effective December 31, 2022. She will also step down as director and executive officer of the company
Until then, Clark will maintain her current position and moving forward, the Company will provide more detailed updates about its new global management structure, including changes to its senior management lineup.
President and CEO 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 2 / 2 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,” Igarashi said.
Clark said of her departure: “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,” she said.
Meanwhile in a LinkedIn post, Clarke added: “Against the back drop of a pernicious global pandemic and an unjustified war our Dentsu International team chose radical collaboration and instinctive generosity as the behaviours that would define and unite us as we sought to become the most integrated network in the world.
“The results set new benchmarks for our company. By Q2 2021, we delivered revenue growth of 17%, growing organic revenue for the first time in 9 quarters, and delivered our long-held operating profit margin target of 15% for the first time in 6 quarters. For the 5 quarters since then we’ve had sequential revenue growth and on-target margin delivery.
“Make no mistake, this is progress not perfection. While we lead in certain aspects of our strategy, we have work to do in others and areas we need to improve upon as a company.
“But this performance is ahead of our mid-term management plan and as such the time is right for Dentsu International to integrate into Dentsu Group, led by Hiroshi Igarashi and one management team. As the outgoing DI CEO, I will help Igarashi-san and the DI Exec Team with this transition through the end of this year.
“I will miss our entire team greatly as I genuinely love this company and all of you. But my soaring pride and confidence in everyone at Dentsu International simply could not be higher.
“I know first-hand the brilliant work and results you all are capable of delivering for our clients and the deep care you will take of each another along the way. Your continued success is certain,” Clark concluded.
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Top image: Wendy Clark