Dentsu names Masako Okamura ECD in Vietnam

Okamura has been a fixture at Dentsu Japan for nearly 20 years and was the agency’s first female creative director. She is highly regarded internationally and has won a number of awards and judged at a wide range of festivals including Cannes Lions and Spikes Asia.

In a statement, Dentsu Aegis Network’s chief executive for Southeast Asia, Dick van Motman, said her appointment was “another step in our regional wide focus to keep raising the talent bar continuously”. Gaku Shinoda, chief executive of Dentsu Vietnam, predicted that Okamura’s “wealth of experience and entrepreneurial spark” would help Dentsu become one of the top five agencies in the market.

Dentsu has not traditionally been as strong creatively outside Japan as in its home market. A priority for the network since it appointed Ted Lim as regional chief creative officer has been building its creative ranks internationally. Recent senior creative hires include Ng Heok Seong in Singapore and Gary Amante and Ray Tiempo in the Philippines.

Okamura was not available for comment on her appointment at press time, but is expected to provide more details in the coming days.