-- Further Contributing to Client Growth by Strengthening Execution Capabilities --

TOKYO, Feb. 13, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dentsu Group Inc. (Tokyo: 4324; ISIN: JP3551520004; Head Office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President & Global CEO: Hiroshi Igarashi; the Company and its Group companies are hereinafter collectively referred to as "dentsu") today announced a new global management structure -- including the appointment of a new President & Global CEO -- with the objective of enhancing execution excellence and driving stronger growth outcomes for our clients. The new structure will go into effect on March 27, 2026.

In FY2025, despite the continued challenges in the overseas business amid a rapidly changing business environment, dentsu's ongoing transformation is already establishing a solid foundation for its next phase of growth. Under the new management structure, dentsu will further strengthen execution by building on its solid business foundation, the culture it has cultivated as a global organization, and the heightened integrity and governance awareness now embedded across the group. These efforts will accelerate transformation and drive greater client growth, while deepening trust with key stakeholders--including clients, investors, and shareholders--and ensuring the sustainable enhancement of corporate value.

A significant change within the Global Management Team responsible for global management is Takeshi Sano's appointment to President & Global CEO. Sano currently serves as CEO, dentsu Japan & Deputy Global Chief Operating Officer, dentsu.

Sano, who also serves as President & CEO of Dentsu Inc., the core operating company that generates approximately 40% of the Group's net revenue and more than half of its underlying operating profit, has evolved Dentsu Inc. into a true Integrated Growth Partner, achieving 11 consecutive quarters of revenue growth and recording high profits for two consecutive years. In addition, since 2023, he has led the growth and global expansion of dentsu's Business Transformation $(BX)$ as BX CEO, dentsu.

Furthermore, from 2025, while serving as Deputy Global COO of dentsu and CEO of dentsu Japan, he has achieved significant results in global management based on the strong client trust built in the Japanese market, including strengthening the integration of the domestic and international operations, supporting Japanese clients in expanding their businesses overseas, and extending dentsu Japan's capabilities into global markets. By continuing to serve as CEO of dentsu Japan in 2026, he will maintain the growth momentum of the Japan business, which underpins the Group's consolidated performance, while creating further synergies between Japan and the overseas business. This will accelerate the execution of the midterm management plan and drive the recovery and growth of the overseas business.

In addition, as Dentsu Inc. aims to achieve further growth by maintaining and strengthening its speed of decision-making and execution as an operating company, Sano will step down from the position of Representative Director, President & CEO of Dentsu Inc. Chisato Matsumoto, who is serving as Director of Dentsu Inc., will assume Sano's current role.

Comment from Takeshi Sano, Director, Representative Executive Officer, President & Global CEO, dentsu (Effective from March 27, 2026):

"Amid rapid shifts in our business and competitive environment, we continue to thoughtfully evolve our leadership approach and management practices to support the pace of our transformation and strengthen execution, all while maximizing our contribution to client growth. Dentsu will continue to sharpen the distinctive value that sets us apart and position ourselves as a true growth partner, supporting clients consistently from strategy through to execution. By creating momentum for our clients, partners, people, and society, we will reinforce trust with stakeholders and steadily advance the sustainable enhancement of our corporate value."

   -- We have formed a new Global Management Team which prioritizes 
      strengthening execution capabilities and accelerating the pace of 
      transformation. Specifically, eliminating the Global COO role overseeing 
      all regions and the Global President role overseeing all practices will 
      allow the CEOs of each region and the Presidents of each practice--who 
      build direct relationships with clients--to report directly to the Global 
      CEO, enabling the management team to operate with greater unity and make 
      swift decisions that prioritize client needs. Additionally, to accelerate 
      global transformation, we have newly appointed a Global Chief 
      Transformation Officer. Concurrently, to strengthen the governance 
      foundation underpinning our global operations, we have also newly 
      appointed a Global Chief Corporate Affairs Officer. 
 
   -- Yoshimasa Watahiki, COO, dentsu Japan, will assume the position of 
      Director, Representative Executive Officer, Vice President and Global 
      Chief Corporate Affairs Officer. After joining Dentsu Inc., Watahiki 
      worked in the media division before serving in several leadership roles 
      within the business management division, where he led the development and 
      execution of business strategies. Since 2020, he has been involved in 
      managing the Dentsu Japan Network (now known as dentsu Japan) as an 
      Executive Officer. In 2023, he was appointed COO, dentsu Japan, driving 
      reforms across both business and management structures while also serving 
      as a board member for numerous group companies and overseeing their 
      governance and management. Going forward, Watahiki will continue in his 
      role as COO, dentsu Japan, while expanding his executive capabilities to 
      the global level, working alongside the Global Management Team headed by 
      Sano. In his new role as Vice President and Global Chief Corporate 
      Affairs Officer, he will primarily be responsible for overseeing 
      governance. In addition, he is scheduled to assume the position of 
      Director and Representative Executive Officer of dentsu, subject to the 
      necessary approvals. 
 
   -- Shigeki Endo will maintain his role as Global CFO. Endo has a track 
      record spanning over 30 years of proven leadership experience in global 
      finance. Starting his career at a Japanese trading company, he held 
      positions in internal audit and CFO roles both within Japan and 
      internationally at the US-based General Electric $(GE)$ and British 
      American Tobacco, accumulating extensive experience in global business 
      operations. He subsequently served as Executive Officer and Japan CFO at 
      Accenture Japan before joining dentsu in July 2024. Since February 2025, 
      has accelerated business and management transformation from a finance 
      perspective as Global CFO, dentsu. He has demonstrated exceptional 
      execution capabilities, particularly in reviewing underperforming 
      overseas businesses and rebuilding the management foundation, where he 
      has delivered steady results. Moving forward, he will strive to enhance 
      corporate value by strengthening the group's financial foundation and 
      achieving sustainable cash generation, thereby earning the trust of 
      various stakeholders. Subject to the necessary approvals, he is also 
      scheduled to assume the position of Director and Executive Officer at 
      dentsu.* Takeshi Sano, Yoshimasa Watahiki and Shigeki Endo have been 
      nominated as candidates for Director to be proposed at the 177th Ordinary 
      General Meeting of Shareholders scheduled for March 27, 2026. In addition, 
      following the conclusion of the same Ordinary General Meeting of 
      Shareholders, they will be appointed to Executive Officers at the Board 
      of Directors meeting. Takeshi Sano and Yoshimasa Watahiki are expected to 
      be appointed Representative Executive Officers. 

Global Management Team

The Global Management Team, consisting of the following 23 members, is responsible for managing the entire Group in approx. 120 countries, including the global headquarters, Dentsu Group Inc. Within this team, the members handling executive duties are referred to as "Global Executive Management."

Global Executive Management appointments (13 leaders)

(Effective from March 27, 2026)

 
Change in title    Position as of            Name           Current position 
                   March 27, 2026 
---------------  -------------------  ------------------  -------------------- 
      **         Director,            Takeshi Sano        Executive Officer, 
                 Representative                           CEO, dentsu Japan & 
                 Executive Officer,                       Deputy Global Chief 
                 President & Global                       Operating Officer, 
                 CEO, dentsu CEO,                         dentsu 
                 dentsu Japan 
---------------  -------------------  ------------------  -------------------- 
      **         Director,            Yoshimasa Watahiki  COO, dentsu Japan 
                 Representative 
                 Executive Officer, 
                 Executive Vice 
                 President, Global 
                 Chief Corporate 
                 Affairs Officer, 
                 dentsu 
---------------  -------------------  ------------------  -------------------- 
      **         Director, Executive  Shigeki Endo        Executive Officer, 
                 Officer, Global                          Global CFO, dentsu 
                 CFO, dentsu 
---------------  -------------------  ------------------  -------------------- 
       *         CEO, dentsu          Beth Ann Kaminkow   CEO, dentsu North 
                 Americas & Chief                         America 
                 Global Client 
                 Officer 
---------------  -------------------  ------------------  -------------------- 

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