Tachikawa shifts to head Dentsu Sports Partners

Tachikawa has been named president of a 13-strong company focusing on four specific areas: content and intellectual property rights consulting, website development, managing professional athletes, and sports event outsourcing. Dentsu said the creation of the new company, which will commence operations at the beginning of February, was prompted by rising demand for specialised sports services in Japan. On a broader scale, Dentsu's president Tateo Mataki highlighted February's Olympic Winter Games in Torino and June's FIFA World Cup in Germany in his new year's message as two major opportunities for the Dentsu Group "to demonstrate the full extent of our capabilities". This will involve initiating a wide array of projects to both inspire new trends and promote social vitality, he added. Mataki's speech formed part of the firm's new year's 'Back-to-Work' ceremony, held every year. Dentsu has also extended its reach in the interactive field, forging separate business alliances with internet marketing specialist OPT and mobile marketing firm Cyber Agent.