Page 16 - Internationalist Magazine 2015 75

FRONT

Dentsu’s Tim Andree Looks at a
T

Changing Agency Business in a

New Light

Tim Andree, Executive Chairman of the Dentsu and also became

Aegis Network and Executive Vice President and a member

member of the Board of Dentsu, would be the rst of the board

person to admit that his agency network is building of directors

something “different,” and not a traditional holding of Dentsu
company model. However, if differenttoday means Inc., as the

being a talent magnet, demonstrating extraordinary company’s rst

management stability, and delivering 10.3% gross non-Japanese

pro t on organic growth in 2014 on international director. During

business, then many would gladly be in his shoes. this time,

“In the midst of globalization and convergence, Dentsu also

we are living in a complex environment for clients,” became the

says Andree. “It’s not complicated; it’s complex. fastest-growing
Tim Andree

And we have to mitigate the cost of complexity for network in the

our clients. We have to organize so that our talent is US--increasing overseas revenue from 5% to 15%.

used to provide the best solutions in an environment Since the acquisition of Aegis, revenue from outside

where collaboration is valued--not just at scale, but
of Japan is over 50%-- creating not only a signi cant

across the organization and across geographies.”
shift, but a remarkable balance.

Tim Andree’s career is the stuff of legend: from When Tim Andree talks about the evolution of his

humble beginnings and a love of basketball that role at Dentsu, he underscores how the company’s

ultimately led him to Japan and client-side roles
current growth stemmed from “simple plans.” He
at Toyota and Canon to today’s responsibility for
says, “It’s about culture, values and motivating
all of Dentsu’s operations outside of Japan. His people. When I joined Dentsu, we had great talent

milestones along the way are extraordinary in
in Japan, but our talent was few and far between in

terms of expansion and fast growth, a focus on the rest of the world. It was clear we needed a deep

innovation, and a rare team-oriented point of view bench of global managers who were aligned, focused,

that undoubtedly comes from a true love of sport and motivated, and who understood that a headquarters

knowing-- rst-hand--what it really takes to win the in Tokyo provided a unique global perspective in

game.
a world where increased GDP growth would come

Dentsu’s 2013 acquisition of Aegis Media,
from Asia.”

the largest transaction in the company’s history, He emphasizes, “Everything we’ve done is

occurred with Tim Andree’s strategic guidance. He working from client need. Essentially, we recognize

was appointed Executive Chairman of Dentsu Aegis that our clients face two major challenges--

Network, a new global operating unit overseeing all globalization and convergence. Yet, these two issues

the operations of Dentsu Network and Aegis Media,
also represent the opportunity for transaction and

14 the internationalist