As dentsu marks its 125th anniversary, the spotlight turns to its evolving legacy — and the leadership shaping its next chapter. At the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity 2026, Global CEO Takeshi Sano will take the stage for a highly anticipated fireside conversation, offering his first public reflections since assuming the role earlier this year.
Titled “Takeshi Sano: A New Era of Innovating to Impact,” the session traces dentsu’s transformation from its origins as a news agency to one of the world’s most integrated marketing networks. Drawing from more than three decades within the organization, Sano is set to unpack the principles that have guided dentsu’s growth — and the beliefs that will define its future.
Framed by the company’s founding ethos, the session places innovation within a broader context of responsibility and relevance. It interrogates what it truly means to be client-centric in today’s landscape, challenging the industry to move beyond rhetoric toward measurable, meaningful outcomes. Through a mix of personal insight, case studies, and visual storytelling, Sano will explore how innovation can translate into real business and societal impact — a theme increasingly central to dentsu’s global direction.
The conversation also underscores the role of culture as a competitive advantage, particularly in navigating an industry shaped by constant change. For Sano, embedding collaboration, agility, and shared values across the organization is not just a leadership imperative, but a strategic one — enabling teams to unlock more effective and enduring solutions for clients.
Attendees can expect the session to address key questions shaping the industry today: how trust underpins sustainable growth, how innovation can move from concept to concrete impact, and how culture can be operationalized at scale.
Sano’s appointment as Representative Executive Officer, President & Global CEO in March 2026 marks the latest milestone in a career spanning over 30 years with dentsu. Having joined Dentsu Inc. in 1992, he has held a series of leadership roles across marketing, business transformation (BX), and digital transformation (DX), steadily expanding his remit across both domestic and global operations. Prior to his current role, he served as Deputy Global CEO and CEO of dentsu Japan, reflecting a leadership trajectory deeply rooted in both continuity and transformation.
“Takeshi Sano: A New Era of Innovating to Impact” will take place on Tuesday, 23 June, from 15:30 to 16:00 at the Debussy Theatre, offering delegates a timely perspective on how one of the industry’s most established networks is redefining innovation for the future.
