Andree will become Dentsu’s first non-Japanese executive officer if voted in by the board next month. He was appointed as CEO of Dentsu’s US operation in May 2006 and is seen as part of Dentsu’s push to globalise its business.
A company spokesperson said: “It is a dawn of a new era for Dentsu.”
Dentsu has reported a 1.7 per cent fall in consolidated billings and a 10.7 per cent fall in operating income for the year ending 31 March. Profits were down 0.9 per cent.
Dentsu has blamed the slowing US economy and a rise in the cost of raw materials on falling client spending in Japan. Japan’s advertising industry grew by 1.1 per cent in 2007 year-on-year, but spend in the four major traditional media fell for the third consecutive year, by 2.6 per cent.
The slump in traditional media was offset by sharp rises in online ads, satellite TV and “promotional” media.
