President Ishii's Address at Dentsu Inc. New Year Work Commencement Ceremony ― Seize the Opportunity of Society's Digitalization to Challenge "Your Own Transformation" ―

Dentsu Inc.'s 2016 New Year's Work Commencement Ceremonies were held at various locations starting at 9:50 AM on January 4th. The Tokyo headquarters ceremony took place in the Dentsu Hall at the Shiodome headquarters building, where President Nao Ishii delivered his New Year's address. The gist is as follows.

The pace of the era and societal trends we find ourselves in continues to accelerate. Amidst rapid environmental change, our clients are also actively pursuing challenges for transformation aimed at further growth. The Dentsu Group must continue striving to be a partner that clearly contributes to the growth of our clients' businesses and grows alongside them. To achieve this, each and every one of us must not be complacent with the status quo, constantly aim higher, and accelerate our own transformation.

The keyword that succinctly captures the changes surrounding modern society is "Digitalization." For companies, the essence of digitalization lies in leveraging diverse technologies and ideas to evolve the business itself into something valuable. The most effective approach to achieve this is for every employee to engage with digitalization from their own perspective, enhance the value of their individual work, and evolve that work. There is no better way.

Dentsu Group upholds "Good Innovation." as its corporate philosophy. However, the most crucial element for a company to achieve innovation is an unwavering resolve to accomplish it at all costs—that is, "commitment." If each of us can correctly grasp the currents of change in our times and commit wholeheartedly to what must be done with strong resolve, we can transform the seemingly threatening waves of intense change into opportunities for leaps forward.

This summer, the Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games will be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Following the Rio Games, the Tokyo Games in 2020 await us. Each company within the Dentsu Group must pour forth all its capabilities, more than ever before, to demonstrate its true value in preparation for the Tokyo Games. We firmly believe that our relentless challenges will lead to the growth of our clients, and ultimately to hope and vitality for society, and to innovation for Japan as a whole.

Let us each challenge ourselves to transform as professionals and work together to make this new year of 2016 a step toward a new leap forward for the entire Dentsu Group.

Dentsu Inc. News Release http://www.dentsu.co.jp/news/release/2016/0104-008613.html