Hakuhodo appoints new president & CEO for Hakuhodo International

Japanese advertising giant Hakuhodo has appointed Akihiko Imai as the new president and CEO of Hakuhodo International, effective immediately. Imai replaces Shuntaro Ito, who steps down as part of a broader leadership restructuring.

Imai has steadily risen through the ranks at Hakuhodo. He started in 1989 and was most recently the president & CEO of TBWA Hakuhodo. Prior to that, his long tenure is marked by various stints including corporate officer, senior corporate officer director of TBWA Hakuhodo China and OMD Hakuhodo. Campaign Asia Pacific has recognised him twice as Japan and Korea as the agency head of the Year, in 2021 and 2023. 

The reshuffle is in line with the agency’s mid-term business plan, which focuses on transforming Hakuhodo’s organisational framework to prioritise innovation, enhance global competitiveness, and expand its next-generation business initiatives.

“I am honoured to lead Hakuhodo International into its next chapter,” Imai said. “I look forward to working with our talented teams to drive growth and innovation, while strengthening our relationships with clients globally as a creative force for meaningful change with sei-katsu-sha.” 

Recent leadership overhaul

The restructuring at Hakuhodo is aimed at accelerating innovation and building a more future-ready organisation. 

Last month, the agency announced the planned transition of Hakuhodo DY Holdings' president and chief executive, Masayuki Mizushima, to the role of chairman of Hakuhodo Inc., while retaining his role as CEO of the parent company. Kenji Nagura, a veteran at the shop has assumed the position of president and representative director of Hakuhodo Inc, effective today.

At the parent company level, Yasuo Nishiyama will step into the role of president and COO of Hakuhodo DY Holdings in June 2025. Nishiyama, has also been with the agency since 1989, will oversee efforts to strengthen the shop’s international strategy and foster global innovation. 

Despite the emphasis on innovation and global expansion, Hakuhodo faces persistent challenges in addressing gender diversity within the ci-suite. As of 2024, women hold less than 6.3% of senior management positions in Japan and 25% internationally. Representation at higher management levels is similarly skewed, with women holding only less than 10% of division head roles in Japan versus nearly 50% globally. 

The company has acknowledged the need for organisational change, stating that the leadership overhaul aims “to build a new organisational framework to further transform our operations and accelerate initiatives for next-generation business.”