Sean Chang, president of Dentsu-Kuohua Taiwan, resigns

Toshiya Yoshida, who was sent out from Tokyo headquarters to Taipei as vice president, was promoted to vice chairman last April.

Chang (pictured) told Campaign Asia-Pacific that the agency has reversed three years of financial losses and exceeded profit targets by 20 percent under his leadership.

In addition, the agency has been receiving ongoing pitch invitations for new business, which were very rare in past 10 years since the Dentsu-Kuohua partnership formed. The agency is reportedly finalising a new business contract with a big Taiwanese electronics company.

Apart from enhancing motivation and passion among staff and renovating the office into a "brighter and modern agency", Dentsu-Kuohua has also changed its external image into one of a 'more outgoing' creative agency.

An industry observer, however, notes that Japanese companies tend to assert their own culture in overseas countries, and such tension is a main reason that Chang decided to leave.

In contrast to other international networks, which in most countries have local talent managing the agencies, Dentsu agencies tend to have Japanese leadership.

Kuohua is the oldest agency in Taiwan, celebrating its 50th anniversary in May last year. Its key clients include Honda Taiwan, Panasonic Taiwan, and a majority of 7-Eleven and Unilever’s advertising accounts.

Chang is now talking to a few key industry contacts about career options.