History

  • 1901
    Hoshiro Mitsunaga establishes Japan Advertising Ltd. and Telegraphic Service Co. (currently known as Dentsu).
  • 1913
    Dentsu contributes to the establishment of The Japan Newspaper Publishers & Editors Association.
  • 1951
    Dentsu establishes the Radio Division at its Head Office and local offices. Commercial radio broadcasting begins in Japan.
  • 1953
    Dentsu establishes the Radio and Television Division at its Head Office and local offices.
    Commercial television broadcasting begins.
  • 1955
    The corporate name is changed to Dentsu Inc.
  • 1959
    Dentsu establishes the Marketing Department and promotes the introduction of marketing.
    Dentsu establishes its New York Office.
  • 1964
    Dentsu contributes to the support of the Tokyo Olympic Games.
  • 1970
    Dentsu contributes to the support of Osaka Expo ’70.
  • 1974
    The US-based magazine Advertising Age ranks Dentsu the No. 1 advertising agency worldwide in terms of billings (calendar 1973).
  • 1980
    Dentsu establishes its Beijing Office in China ahead of all other overseas advertising agencies.
  • 1984
    Dentsu contributes to the support of the Los Angeles Olympic Games.
    Dentsu and US-based Young & Rubicam jointly establish DYR, an international service network.
  • 1989
    Dentsu’s net sales exceed one trillion yen in the fiscal year ended March 31, 1989.
  • 1996
    Dentsu contributes to the establishment of cyber communications inc. (cci), Japan’s first Internet advertising agency.
  • 1997
    The animated film Princess Mononoke—a co-production between Dentsu, Tokuma Shoten, and others—becomes a big hit.
  • 1998
    Dentsu contributes to the support of the Nagano Winter Olympic Games.
  • 2000
    Dentsu establishes the Bcom3 Group with the US-based firms the Leo Group and the MacManus Group.
  • 2001
    Dentsu lists its shares on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock. Exchange (TSE: 4324). Dentsu commemorates its 100th anniversary.
  • 2002
    Dentsu contributes to the support of the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/JapanTM.
    The Bcom3 Group merges with the French company Publicis Groupe S.A., and Dentsu acquires capital in the Publicis Groupe.
  • 2004
    Dentsu implements a stock split (1:2).
  • 2007
    Dentsu’s consolidated net sales reach two trillion yen in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007.
  • 2008
    Dentsu Holdings USA, Inc. acquires mcgarrybowen, LLC of the United States.
    Dentsu repurchases shares of approximately 60 billion yen.
  • 2009
    Dentsu implements a stock split (1:100).
  • 2010
    Dentsu establishes Dentsu Digital Holdings.
  • 2012
    Dentsu terminates strategic alliance and other agreements with Publicis Groupe S.A. and sells to Publicis a block of the shares of Publicis held by Dentsu.
  • 2013
    Dentsu acquires Aegis Group plc and establishes a new global operating unit, Dentsu Aegis Network, in London.
    The Dentsu Group medium-term management plan “Dentsu 2017 and Beyond” was released.
    Dentsu raises funds through a public offering.
  • 2014
    Dentsu is appointed as marketing agency by the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
  • 2015
    Dentsu repurchases shares worth approximately 20 billion yen.
    Voluntary applied International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) with changes going into effect on December 31, 2017
    The Dentsu Group medium-term CSR strategy 2020 is released.
  • 2016
    Transition from a company with an Audit & Supervisory Board to one with an Audit and Supervisory Committee
    Dentsu Digital Inc. is incorporated.
    Dentsu acquires a majority of shares in Merkle Group, Inc., an independent agency in the United States.
  • 2017
    Senior Vice President Toshihiro Yamamoto became the 13th President and CEO
    Dentsu acquires approximately 20.0 billion yen in treasury shares.
  • 2018
    Announced the Dentsu Group Medium-term Policy and began consideration of transition to a pure holding company structure (targeted for January 2020)
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